A remarkable discovery was made earlier this month when a humpback whale, believed to have vanished for about three decades, washed ashore on Sable Island National Park Reserve in the Northern Atlantic. Here are the key details of the story:
- Discovery and Response:
- The beached humpback whale was initially reported on November 2, 2023, by the Marine Animal Response Society, a marine animal conservation organization based in Nova Scotia.
- The whale was still alive when it stranded on the south side of Sable Island, but due to its massive size and the dangerous surf conditions, there was limited capacity to provide assistance or perform a humane euthanasia.
- Humpback Whale Characteristics:
- Adult male humpback whales, like the one found, can grow to measure between 45 feet and 56 feet in length and weigh at least 35 tons or 70,000 pounds.
- Remote Location:
- Sable Island National Park Reserve is a remote and isolated landmass, covering just 12 square miles in the Atlantic Ocean.
- Access to the island is limited, and it is managed by Parks Canada. Visitors require permission to access the island, which is known for its wild horses and colonies of sea lions.
- Identification of the Whale:
- Researchers from the Center for Coastal Studies in Massachusetts and Allied Whale at the College of the Atlantic in Maine were able to identify the beached whale.
- A photograph of the underside of the whale’s tail, known as flukes, was taken while the animal was still alive. This allowed researchers to match the whale to records from 1982 when it was first spotted off the Dominican Republic.
- Mystery Surrounding Disappearance:
- The humpback whale was estimated to be at least 43 years old based on its initial sighting in 1982.
- After disappearing in the early 1990s, the whereabouts and activities of the whale over the following decades remain a mystery.
- Cause of Death Unknown:
- The cause of the whale’s death could not be determined due to the remote location and challenging circumstances on Sable Island.
- No external signs of injury or trauma were observed.
- Contribution to Research:
- While the cause of the stranding and death remains unclear, the documentation and images collected are considered valuable for long-term population studies of North Atlantic humpback whales.
This discovery highlights the mysteries of marine life and the challenges of dealing with large whale strandings in remote and inaccessible locations.