Beached finback whale was malnourished - Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

Beached finback whale was malnourished

A finback whale washed up on a beach in Queens. (Photo by Ti-Hua Chang) A finback whale washed up on a beach in Queens. (Photo by Ti-Hua Chang)
NEW YORK (AP) -

Necropsy tests show that a 60-foot beached whale that died in a costal enclave of New York City was not injured or killed by humans.

The animal is part of an endangered species known as finback or fin whales. It was severely emaciated but clinging to life when it was discovered stranded on the bay side of Breezy Point, an area hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy. Volunteer firefighters sprayed water on the whale as it sat halfway out of the water. It drifted out of sight at high tide and came ashore dead Thursday.

Marine officials said Friday the whale was malnourished and had lesions in its stomach and kidneys. The cause of death won't be completed until testing comes back on tissue samples.

The whale is being buried.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

  • Queens NewsQueens News

  • Friday, May 24 2013 9:03 PM EDT2013-05-25 01:03:29 GMT
    The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy.
    The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather.  Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by superstorm Sandy. The Fox 5 weather team is calling for sunny skies on Sunday and Monday.
  • Friday, May 24 2013 6:09 PM EDT2013-05-24 22:09:59 GMT
    New York State has 17,000 highway bridges. There are some bad ones. The Tappan Zee Bridge, for example, is set to be replaced because of aging infrastructure.
    New York State has 17,000 highway bridges. There are some bad ones. The Tappan Zee Bridge, for example, is set to be replaced because of aging infrastructure.
  • Delta Air Lines is opening a $1.4 billion terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport, strengthening its hand in the battle for the lucrative New York travel market.
    Delta Air Lines is opening a $1.4 billion terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport, strengthening its hand in the battle for the lucrative New York travel market.
Powered by WorldNow

WTXF-TV
330 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2796

Phone: (215) 925-2929
Fax: (215) 982-5494

Didn't find what you were looking for?
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Fox Television Stations, Inc. and Worldnow. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices