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Animals and Pets / News / Southampton Press / 1701731

Deceased Humpback Whale Washes Ashore Near Cupsogue County Park

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A 32-foot male, deceased humpback whale washed ashore near Cupsogue County Park on Saturday morning. COURTESY AMSEAS

A 32-foot male, deceased humpback whale washed ashore near Cupsogue County Park on Saturday morning. COURTESY AMSEAS

The humpback whale floating off of Moriches Inlet on Friday. COURTESY US COAST GUARD SECTOR LONG ISLAND SOUND

The humpback whale floating off of Moriches Inlet on Friday. COURTESY US COAST GUARD SECTOR LONG ISLAND SOUND

authorStaff Writer on May 23, 2020

A 32-foot male, deceased humpback whale washed ashore near Cupsogue County Park on Saturday morning.

The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) towed the whale near shore on Friday night in expectation it would wash ashore in the area.

The AMSEAS team performed a necropsy. The whale was moderately decomposed, but a robust animal with a full stomach, which showed it had been eating. There was evidence of previous entanglement, orca predation, and healed wounds on the fluke. Cause of death is inconclusive at this time. Samples were taken and sent to a pathologist. Results may take several months to come back. Remains of the whale were buried on the beach.

AMSEAS was alerted on Friday morning that a deceased humpback whale was floating near Moriches Inlet. The whale was initially reported by the US Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound and a private vessel that called the New York State Stranding Hotline.

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