Seaside Park Humpback Whale's Death Under Investigation

SEASIDE PARK, NJ — A 30-foot humpback whale that washed ashore Thursday morning has been buried on the beach following a necropsy that was performed on Friday.

Officials with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said the necropsy was conducted by Stranding Network members from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, New York Marine Rescue Center, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The humpback, which was a female, was fairly decomposed, stranding center officials said.

It had washed ashore before dawn on Thursday, Seaside Park Mayor John A. Peterson Jr. said Friday night. Read more: Whale Washes Ashore In Seaside Park

"Although the animal was fairly decomposed, teams were able to determine that she was a female, in good body condition, and document several internal and external injuries," the center said. "These include bruising on the head, sections of fractured skull, and sharp force trauma consistent with propeller wounds on the right lateral side."

"Evidence of previous entanglement scars were also documented," the center said.

"The necropsy team obtained (tissue) samples from the wound sites, as well as other parts of the whale, that will be sent out for further testing to determine if the injuries were sustained pre- or post-mortem," the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said. "Following the necropsy, the whale was buried on the beach."

Full results may not be available for many weeks, the center said.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said the Seaside Park Police Department, fire department, public works, New Jersey State Park Police, Ocean County Sheriff's department, Seaside Heights officials, NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement and Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office staff, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Projection, and Monmouth County Department of Public Works "were all on scene or assisting with the response," the center said. "We are thankful for the tireless efforts of our stranding network and local partners, and their dedication towards these animals."

The center has said that it has been waiting for months for final pathology results on whales that stranded last summer.

"We have been transparent with the information we know from the preliminary necropsy results, however we are at the mercy of the time it takes for final pathology results to be completed," center officials have said.

Trisha DeVoe, a conservation biologist who works with the Miss Belmar on their whale watching tours, said the whale was buried on the beach in Seaside Park, and shared a photo in the Save Jersey Shore Facebook group. DeVoe said locals named the whale Windy.

The stranding center reminded people to call its hotline at 609-266-0538 to immediately report any sick, injured, or deceased marine mammals and sea turtles in New Jersey.