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A WHALE WASHED ashore on Long Island on Thursday with bite marks “bigger than a Chihuahua,” Kim Durham of the Riverhead Foundation told Newsday.
Long Island
The 58-foot fin whale was discovered about 8am on Thursday near the campgrounds at Smith County Park in Shirley, New York. That’s about 77 miles from New York City.
Durham said that the creature was missing most of its skin and was in an advanced state of decomposition.
The bite marks indicated that “large sea animals, possibly a shark, had fed on the carcass post-mortem,” Durham added. The fin whale’s only natural predator, apart from humans, is the orca whale.
The fin whale is an endangered species, with conservative estimates placing about 1,700 North American specimens left in the ocean. It’s also the second-largest whale in the world, after the blue whale.
Fin whale
It can grow to be as long as 85 feet, though those found in the Northern Hemisphere, such as in the waters around New York, typically top out at 75 feet. Adult fin whales can weigh anywhere between 40 and 80 tons.
Marine biologists at the Riverhead Foundation performed a necropsy and reported yesterday that the whale was likely struck by a boat, adding that “samples will be sent out for further analysis to confirm these preliminary findings”.
Fin whales typically have a lifespan of 80 to 90 years. The Riverhead Foundation has not announced how old this whale was when it died.
These whales can be a big pain to move, since they start to rot and smell, even ballooning up and threatening to explode. The Riverhead Foundation plans to work with county officials to dispose of the carcass.
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Great story, lovely to see people getting a permanent home, wishing them health and happiness in their new abodes.
Trust a politician to turn up for the foto
I love my brick. Foto, Foto…
There are 2 houses boarded up on my street in dublin 9. They have been foe over a year since the last families were evicted for drug dealing. There is another around the corner that was vacated and is now used as a changing room for the local soccer club. So there’s 3 3 bed homes not being used. What the fook are the council playing at.
It’s very positive… We could complain and moan, that someone one had to die outside the Dáil for things like this to happen but realise it’s A good news story on the back of a very tough year for the likes of poor John Corry.. Let’s hope they have a good Christmas and great credit The likes of Lord Mayor Christy Burke & all involved..
No Ray,these houses haven’t been planned, built and equipped since that poor man died near the Dail!
But I take your point. Never in the history of our decrepit little state have a government responded so quickly to a tragedyli,e that, but at least they are responding which can only be a good thing. It’s up to us, the public, to ensure that it’s not a just pre christmas, pre election stunt. We need to keep the pressure on to make sure the policy is continued and also spread nationwide. While the homeless crises in Dublin is desperate, and the govt response is making the headlines, other cities like Cork and Waterford have a similar problem which are not being tackled.
great news to hear, i wonder how long they were waiting? just 5 f****in houses though, hard work from Alone mind, they get little support only from what we give :/ and to think this government could provide 500 if they wanted but would rather pay others.
Its so good to know these few people are living in their own homes for Christmas, long may they enjoy and hopefully by next Christmas no one will be sleeping on the streets at least those who don’t want to. Happy Christmas to you.
I used to work with ALONE when i was a teenager, very long time ago, need to get finger out
and get back there , Merry Christmas to one and all, xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Once it is not a publicity stunt? What about homeless families too?
Isn’t it great that these people can now have a cup of tea by the fire in their own homes ! All the best to them
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