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A Sei whale that recently washed ashore at Rockaway Beach likely met its end due to a boat collision, according to scientists.
Specialists from the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society conducted a necropsy on this enormous 45-foot marine creature, which appeared on the beach last Thursday, officials reported.
During the animal autopsy, experts identified characteristic abrasions on the whale’s right flank. Further internal investigation revealed significant bruising in the surrounding tissues on that same side, officials noted, as reported by PIX11.
The initial evidence strongly suggests that a boat strike was the probable cause of the whale’s demise.
The whale, measuring 40 feet in length, was initially seen drifting approximately 15 miles off the Long Island coast before eventually coming ashore near Beach 95.
Swarms of the curious rushed to take photos of the whale and had to be cordoned off behind yellow tape, according to a Facebook post of the heartbreaking scene.
It’s extremely dangerous to stand near a dead whale, said experts.
When a deceased whale becomes beached, decomposition begins almost immediately. The whale’s body begins to bloat, and the sunlight’s heat hastens the process.
As the gasses expand, the skin thins and begins to give way. The pressure inside the whale builds to dangerous levels and can result in explosive consequences — and devastating injuries for anyone standing nearby.
Sei whales are listed under the Endangered Species Act, according to NOAA.