An endangered humpback whale was found dead on one of North Carolina’s barrier islands last month, and parts of it will go on permanent display at a park in the state.
The 31-foot whale was discovered off the North Core Banks, within the Cape Lookout National Seashore, on December 28.
Cape Lookout National Seashore said in a Jan. 10 news release that a team from the state’s marine mammal stranding network arrived on the beach Dec. 29 to inspect the whale and run a stranding report, which tracks the species from the animal and reports on the results of the necropsy. Although a necropsy was performed and samples were taken, no cause of death has been revealed.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Network team also helped collect parts of the whale that will later go on public display at a North Carolina park.
21-FOOT ORCA WHALE DEAD IN FLORIDA AFTER BEING STRANDED
The 31-foot whale was discovered off the North Core Banks, within the Cape Lookout National Seashore, on December 28.
(Cape Lookout National Seashore)
“The team also helped the park collect one of the whale’s front flippers and a 4-foot-long section of baleen from the whale’s mouth for processing and eventually use in an exhibit at the Harkers Island Visitor Center. said Cape Lookout National Seashore. wrote.
A photo shared by the park on Facebook shows a park biologist lying next to the fin to demonstrate its length. According to officials, the fin was 13 feet long and weighed 311 pounds.
A photo shared by the park on Facebook shows a park biologist lying next to the fin to show that the fin is longer than the person.
(Cape Lookout National Seashore)
This humpback whale was the second discovered on a North Carolina beach in December.
A 30-foot humpback was found stranded December 5 on Hatteras Island off the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, located just north of Cape Lookout. A necropsy was also performed on this whale, but authorities have not revealed the cause of death.
CALIFORNIA WHALE WATCHERS EXPERIENCE ‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME NOTICE’ OF NEWLY HALF GRAY WHALE CRIÑA
The fin measured 13 feet and weighed 311 pounds.
(Cape Lookout National Seashore)
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All humpback whale species are labeled as endangered in US waters, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Experts say the most common causes of death for humpback whales are becoming entangled in fishing gear and being struck by boats.
Humpback whales can weigh up to 40 tons and reach 60 feet in length. They can also live up to 90 years.
