Baby humpback whale meets tragic end off New Jersey coast in suspected propeller strike
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A baby humpback whale has died after becoming stranded on a sandbar near Long Beach Island, New Jersey. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center suspects the whale suffered injuries from a boat propeller, according to their statement.

The whale endured at least two nights trapped before it succumbed to its condition.

Initially reported at around 3 p.m. local time on Friday, the 29-foot humpback was seen off the Holgate coast.

Gotham Whale, a marine research organization, also noted the whale’s struggle to feed in the waters close to Rockaway.

Exterior shot of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center sign

The marine center confirmed that a team located the whale in shallow waters on the west side of Holgate, as indicated by Google Maps.

In the press release posted online, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center explained how they were working to tow the young whale Tuesday after it had sadly died.

The center also detailed how on Friday a team had spotted the whale in shallow water off the west side of Holgate, where the whale then appeared to be beached on a sandbar. 

The whale was identified as a young humpback when they eventually reached it.

The team described how the whale was lethargic and in very thin body condition, with “wounds consistent with a previous propeller strike” present across both the left and right dorsal sides of the whale.

An image of an injured humpback whale in the water

The marine center said the whale was lethargic and in very thin body condition when they examined it. (Marine Mammal Stranding Center)

The whale’s prognosis by medical examiners was also extremely poor, and it was unlikely to survive, the release said.

“Sedatives were administered to keep the animal comfortable until operations could resume safely the following daytime low tide,” it said.

The center confirmed online that the whale “was monitored until well after dark on Saturday 10/18 by the MMSC Stranding Team, our network partners Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, and NJ Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers.” 

Holgate

The 29-foot humpback was first spotted off the coast of Holgate. (Google Maps)

The monitoring was said to have continued into the night and before the team discovered that the animal had sadly passed away.

“Our entire team is deeply saddened by every deceased animal that we investigate, but the ones that hit the hardest are animals like this young whale who never got the chance to contribute to their species,” the press release concluded.

Fox News Digital has reached out to MMSC and Gotham Whale for further comment.

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