Tragic Ship Collision Claims Whale's Life Near Virginia Coast
In the waters near Virginia, a whale carcass was discovered. The autopsy conducted on the massive creature helped ascertain the time and most probable cause of its demise.
Experts, as referenced by international media, have stated that the whale died on Saturday, March 30th of this year, but the autopsy findings weren't disclosed until April 2nd.
Dead whale in the USA
A Navy research team operating in the Atlantic Ocean noted the whale's body floating approximately 50 nautical miles (around 58 miles) from the Virginia coast. The deceased animal was subsequently towed ashore, after which relevant authorities were notified to perform an autopsy on the mammal. Analysis of the results led experts to deduce the whale suffered "catastrophic injuries."
The autopsy results suggest a tragic collision of the whale with a vessel," Gib Brogan, the Oceans campaign director in the United States, said, as quoted by the American news agency UPI.
The velocity at which the whale was swimming at the time of impact, evidenced by numerous fractured vertebrae, leads experts to believe the collision was at high speed. It's interesting to note that these creatures can reach up to six miles per hour.
The Boston Globe has mentioned that this incident marks the third mammal casualty due to ship collisions this year.
Alarming Trends
In 2017, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) highlighted a grave issue affecting whale populations: a surge in mortality rates among North Atlantic marine mammals. "Mammals are at risk," NOAA officials announced, a trend that seemingly worsens.
According to the American organization, the primary causes of whale fatalities stem from being entangled in fishing gear and ship collisions within US and Canadian waters.
Source: Daily Press/Boston Globe/UPI
