Whale found dead on Rockaways shore
A 25-foot whale that was likely struck and killed by a ship was found washed up on the Rockaways shore Friday morning.
According to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, the female minke whale who suffered “several broken bones and injuries all over her body” was spotted at 9 a.m. near 29th Street Beach.
“There was additional evidence of blunt force trauma,” the group said, indicating the mammal likely died after being struck by a boat or other vessel.
Heartbreaking footage of the whale shows at least three deep gashes running from its back to its belly.
Minke deaths have been increasing along the Atlantic coast since 2017, with at least 141 fatalities in those years, prompting NOAA to declare an unusual fatality event.
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The minke whale is the second whale to wash up in the Rockaways since December.
In the previous case, a baby whale was still alive when it washed up on the neighborhood beach late last year, but died after rescuers were unable to rescue it. ‘water.
About two weeks ago, a 40-year-old humpback whale named Luna washed up on the shores of Long Beach. The 14.5 tonne Leviathan – which has been tracked by scientists for decades – was also killed by a ship as it attempted to break through to the surface.
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