A humpback whale was trapped in the waters of Long Island. Veterinarians have decided that they have no choice but euthanized the 20-ton whale that was already swimming without escape in the water of Moriches Bay. Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had argued that the humpback whale got stuck 2 feet deep in an inlet with water.
- Experts form NOAA have made a lot of efforts to free the whale from the waters of Long Island.
- Despite their efforts, they did not manage to free the animal, deciding to euthanize it.
During the time spent there, specialists had analyzed it and established the animal presented signs of neurological damage and many injuries which were already infected. The whale was barely responsive to the signs of the veterinarians. The Riverhead Foundation claimed that the first time the humpback whale was seen in the Bay was back on November 13.
All the attempts of the specialists meant to free the whale from the sandbar were proved to be in vain. John Bullard, the director of NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, has asserted that his team did its best, using tidal conditions to create waves and free the animal, but unfortunately, all the struggle was not enough to rescue the whale.
Some local inhabitants who were present when the humpback whale was euthanized had criticized the efforts of the foundation, arguing that experts did not struggle enough to save the poor animal, choosing the easy path. They have decided to end its life, being unable to free the creature. Some residents attempted to help the animal themselves, without thinking that their life could be in danger. NOAA experts did not allow anybody else interfere between them and the whale, trying their best to succeed.
Adrienne Esposito, the executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, has claimed that she is incredibly sad for the decision taken by NOAA specialists. She stated that people could have tried other methods to free the animal, without choosing the most extreme measure.
Officials from NOAA have argued that the animal was already ill, presenting several injuries which got infected. The whale was already sick, and they could not do anything to give it a better perspective. If they had tried to move it from there, they would have caused the whale several internal injuries due to the pressure acting on its flippers and tail.
Several days ago, another humpback whale was spotted in Hudson River, in New York.
Image courtesy of: wikipedia
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