Large, Dead Fin Whale Washes Up On Long Island Beach
MASTIC BEACH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A team from the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation has identified the large dead whale that washed up on shore on an eastern Long Island beach.
The male fin whale was found at Smith Point County Park about 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
The Riverhead Foundation said the whale is approximately 58 feet long.
It's unclear how the whale died.
"The animal is marked by pretty advanced decomposition, but seems to be intact," said Kimberly Durham of the Riverhead Foundation.
A full forensic examination will be conducted Friday to try to determine the cause of death.
"There's really not very much information we can determine from just an external examination, an internal is necessary to determine any kind of cause of death," Durham said.
Video from the scene shows the whale washed up on the beach not far from the water's edge with a crowd of onlookers gathered around.
A dead leatherback turtle that was found nearby was reported to the Riverhead Foundation two days ago, Durham said.
The two incidents appear to be unrelated, Durham said, as the turtle was buried on the beach.
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