CAPE MAY POINT, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A whale that became beached along the Jersey Shore on Tuesday afternoon has been euthanized after a medical evaluation determined that “the whale’s prognosis was extremely poor, and was unlikely to survive," the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said.
The animal was discovered washed up on the shore of Sunset Beach at about 2:10 p.m. on Tuesday, and first responders determined that it was still alive and stranded dry on the beach with the outgoing tide.
MMSC’s Stranding Team and veterinarian responded to the scene, and the animal was identified as a Minke whale measuring about 18 feet in length.
Upon examination by the veterinarian, the MMSC said that the whale was lethargic, in thin body composition and congestion was heard in its lungs.
This poor medical condition is in addition to the strain caused to the whale by being stranded. Stranding is so traumatic to cetaceans because their body weight and organs are normally supported by the water around them, so when on land, their own body weight causes crushing damage to internal organs, lessening their chance of survival.
“The decision was made to humanely euthanize the whale to prevent further suffering,” the MMSC said.
The carcass was secured overnight and a necropsy was scheduled for Wednesday.