Young Humpback Whale Found Stranded On North Shore

WINTHROP, MA — Marine officials were working for the past two days to remove a young humpback whale found stranded in Winthrop.

The whale was found under a dock in Winthrop at about 12:30 p.m., at high tide, on Wednesday.

Officials from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation said the cause of death had not been determined as of Thursday afternoon.

"Our team was on the scene yesterday and we are working with NOAA to locate a space to conduct a necropsy," WDC said on social media. "Whales are ecosystem engineers who are vital to the health of the planet. To better protect them, it's important for us to understand more about this whale's life and their death."

WDC said it also reached out to members of the Wampanoag Tribes in "acknowledgement that this whale represents a loss to their family, and we offer our sincerest sympathies to them."

WDC is authorized by NOAA/NMFS to respond to stranded marine mammals between Plymouth and Revere.

It was two years ago when an 11-year-old female humpback whale, which residents dubbed "Espresso," was found on Preston Beach in Swampscott.

The whale previously washed ashore in Marblehead and was then taken by the tail about 50 miles offshore back into the ocean. But two weeks later, she was back in Swampscott with her deteriorating condition making it difficult to provide another burial at sea.

Espresso was ultimately buried in Swampscott near the town line with Marblehead.