An 18-20-foot humpback whale had reportedly washed ashore on Robert Moses State Park this past Friday.
Apparently, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society received notice of the whale carcass floating near Fire Island on Thursday night. However, the massive mammal didn’t wash ashore until the next morning, reported the New York Post.
Those on the East Coast have seen an “unusual mortality event” for humpback whales in recent years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This is the 17th dead humpback whale to have washed ashore between Florida and Maine this year—10 now between New Jersey and Long Island alone.
Upon first inspection, the cause of death could not be detected. However, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society is working to determine one. “We haven’t seen any outward signs that you might see of a boating injury, such as a gash in it or something like that,” New York State Park Regional Director George “Chip” Gordon shared with ABC7.
Pulling it up shore was no easy feat. According to the New York Post, the carcass removal required a bulldozer. Stay tuned for updates to come.