NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A rare whale washed ashore on a Brooklyn beach earlier this week and died, a state animal conservation group said.
The New York Marine Rescue Group responded on Sunday afternoon to a call about the unusual sighting of a stranded pygmy sperm whale on Plumb Beach — only the 18th known pygmy sperm whale to strand in New York in the last 41 years, the group shared on Facebook.
However, prior to the team's arrival from Riverhead, attentive beachgoers pushed the animal back into the water repeatedly.
Maxine Montello, the group's rescue program director, told "Newsline with Brigitte Quinn" on 1010 WINS that despite their efforts to help the whale, it restranded.
"It does really affect an animal like this who is already compromised and already struggling," she said.
When the whale restranded for the third time, the organization's stranding team responders did an in-field assessment, which showed that the animal was in poor health.
Ultimately, humane euthanasia was deemed the best course of action, but with the incoming tide and darkness, it was determined it not be done immediately.
The whale's health was monitored overnight with the support of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officers, Gateway National Recreation Area and NYMRC’s team. It passed on its own Monday morning.
A necropsy, or animal autopsy, was conducted, and it was revealed that the animal was a nine-foot-long young adult male. It was observed having food in its stomach, but it was thin and also had a heavy parasite load.
His cause of death will be determined by a pathologist.
Dolphins, whales and porpoises are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes attempting to interact with these animals illegal.
The the best way to help marine mammal or sea turtle's health or well-being is to call the NYS 24-Stranding Hotline at 631-369-9829.
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