Bad Day For Marine Animals: Leatherback Turtle & Minke Whale Found Dead Near SK & Narragansett: DEM

NARRAGANSETT, RI—Mystic Aquarium will conduct post-mortem tests on two marine animals to determine the cause of death, according to Rose Jones, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Management. One animal is a leatherback turtle, she said. The other is a minke whale.

The turtle washed up on East Matunuck Beach today, but the Coast Guard may have taken a report about a dead leatherback turtle yesterday. Patch called the Coast Guard for information Tuesday after hearing comments on the radio scanner, but no information was available.

"The leatherback turtle is deceased." Jones confirmed. Mystic Aquarium will be conducting a necropsy to determine cause of death."

As for the whale, it turned up in Narragansett.

"A deceased 15-foot minke whale is floating within stationary fishing gear off Point Judith. We are working with local officials on removal, which is scheduled for tomorrow. Mystic Aquarium will be conducting a necropsy once the animal is relocated to shore," she said.

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