A rare and deep-diving whale died while being unusually stranded on Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Scientists think that the creature could have been infected with bird flu.
Sowerby's Beaked Whale Gets Stranded
Live Science reports that the creature was still breathing when responders reached the scene on May 18. It was the first time for the team to witness such a sight.
Brian Yurasits, who is a Seacoast Science Center (SSC) member, explains that the whale was alive but appeared to be lethargic. Nevertheless, it still thrashed from time to time. He mentioned to New Hampshire Public Radio that the creature seemed to be a combination of a dolphin and a whale.
The marine creature was later identified as a juvenile Sowerby beaked whale female. This is one of the ocean's deepest-diving creatures. This specific whale had a length of 13.8 feet.
WMUR reports that, according to experts, it is extremely rare for such whales to get stranded. This is because they tend to dwell in deeper areas. Yurasits explains that, in most cases, Sowerby's beaked whales spend their time on the North Atlantic's continental shelf. He explains that one would not expect to witness such sightings close to the shore in shallow depths.
The team decided not to move the creature into the water, fearing that this would lead to more distress or harm. The creature was also far from its ideal habitat, and it may struggle to return to such areas.
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Whale Dies of Suspected Bird Flu
After a few hours, the whale died. The SSC, with an agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), brought the carcass to the University of New Hampshire for necropsy.
Results revealed that the whale was dealing with a viral infection that made its brain swell and become inflamed. Inga Sidor, the necropsy's lead pathologist and a clinical associate professor of biomedical, cellular, and molecular sciences, explains that the extent of inflammation sheds light on the animal's death. Sidor also adds that it also explains why the creature appeared disoriented and ended up getting stranded in shallow regions.
Though scientists are still looking into the cerebral tissue of the creature to pinpoint the exact virus, Sigor explains that bird flu is the topmost consideration. Live Science notes that there are only a very few cetaceans that have been found to have bird flu. Hence, this will be a big deal for the marine world of mammals if the Sowerby's beaked whale's case appears to be that of avian influenza.
Otherwise, the body of the creature was in good shape and did not exhibit any signs of trauma or injury.
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