North Atlantic right whale found dead near Martha's Vinyard
A female North Atlantic right whale was found dead with a rope wrapped around it off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on Sunday, a rare occurrence that has scientists concerned about the future of the critically endangered species with about 360 animals left.
The whale, thought to be a juvenile because of its size, had washed up on Joseph Sylvia State Beach on the island's northeast coast with a rope wrapped around its stem, the part that connects the tail fin to the body, the National Oceanic said and Atmospheric Administration. said in one rack.
“It is devastating to hear about yet another loss for the North Atlantic right whale,” said Gib Brogan, campaign director at Oceana, an international conservation group based in Washington. “This death is even more disturbing when it involves a female calf that could have had many calves of its own for decades.”
Death occurred during the four-month period when such whales give birth. So far this season, 16 calves have been born, Oceana said.
Of the remaining North Atlantic right whales, fewer than 70 are reproductively active females, researchers estimate. According to UN figures, at least nine of the whales have been killed and 70 others injured since 2017 NOAA.
Scientists waited for the weather to improve so they could determine what caused the latest death and identify the specific animal. Marine experts will compare the genetic material to the patches of raised tissue on its head, known as callusesopposite a huge library of whale genetic data.
North Atlantic right whales rarely wash up on beaches, making the carcass an unusual opportunity for scientists to study it and understand how to better protect the dwindling population, said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of Whale and Dolphin Conservation, a nonprofit organization in Plymouth. , Mass.
“It's tragic,” she said. “But it's also the kind of goldmine where you can examine the carcass and find out what happened.”
The whale could not be immediately identified because it was found on its back, with the identifying patterns buried in the sand, they added.
The North Atlantic right whale's slow speed, tendency to float when harpooned, and thick blubber (used in cosmetics, leather, and soap) made them a frequent target of whalers for centuries. They were named because they were the 'real whale to hunt'. The hunt for the species began in the 9th centurycontinued until an international treaty banned the practice in 1935, by which time the whales were nearly extinct.
The whales usually live within 30 miles of the east coast of the United States and Canada. Their habitat overlaps with shipping lanes and fishing lines, making them vulnerable to collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear. Human activity is the leading cause of death for whales.
Earlier this month, another North Atlantic whale calf was spotted off the coast of South Carolina with what appeared to be lacerations from a boat propeller on its head. NOAA officials were continue to assess his injuries.
When ropes wrap around whales' bodies, it can slow them down, making it difficult to swim, feed and reproduce, scientists say. The rope can also cut into the flesh and cause life-threatening infections. Conservation groups have urged fishermen to use equipment with less rope on request or without rope systems to protect the whales.