BARNEGAT BAY — A necropsy was performed Monday on a Minke whale that stranded in Double Creek Channel over the weekend, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.
The adult female whale, measuring 26 feet 4 inches, was discovered Saturday, August 2 after an accident involving a boat. The necropsy, conducted with assistance from the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and Cornell University, revealed the whale was in thin condition with bruising on the dorsal side, superficial external cuts, blood in the lungs, and lesions in the stomach. Its gastrointestinal tract was nearly empty.
Biological samples collected during the examination will be analyzed by a pathologist, with final results to be shared at mmsc.org.
The whale was buried on the beach following the procedure. Officials thanked the numerous agencies and volunteers involved in the recovery, including NJ State Marine Police, U.S. Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light, NOAA, and local responders.
