Dead Whale Washes Up On Long Beach Island Shore, Officials Say

LONG BEACH TWP., NJ — A deceased and heavily decomposed humpback whale washed up on the shore of Long Beach Township on Long Beach Island Friday morning, officials said.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center responded to 130th Street in the Beach Haven Terrace section of the township at about 7 a.m. June 27 after it was reported that a large, deceased whale was in the process of washing up on the shore.

With the help of the Long Beach Township Department of Public Works, the whale was secured and taken to the DPW yard for examination by stranding center staff.

The female humpback whale, 29.5 feet long, was "in the advanced stages of decomposition" and was not viable for further biological sampling, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said.

Based on photographs, it was determined this was the same whale that was first seen already dead and floating about 3.5 miles offshore from Harvey Cedars on June 23, officials said.

Since the disposal of the carcass is the property owner's responsibility, the whale will be buried at the DPW yard.