A North Atlantic right whale, seriously threatened with extinction, was found dead over the weekend on the coast of South Carolina, more than four months after being spotted entangled in fishing equipment.
The National Marine Fisheries Service confirmed on Sunday that the dead whale was discovered in waters about 15 miles off the coast of Myrtle Beach. It is the third recorded death of right whales since the breeding season for rare species began in November along the southern east coast.
RIGHT WHALE RIGHT DISCOVERED ON NORTH CAROLINA BEACH
Experts estimate that fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales survive. Pregnant females migrate each winter to the warmer coastal waters of Georgia and Florida to give birth to their young.
The whale found dead off South Carolina was an 11-year-old male who had been entangled at least since October, when he was spotted off Nantucket, Massachusetts, swimming with a fishing line stuck in his mouth and extending beyond his mouth. tail, the service fishermen said in a press release.
Conservationists fear that North Atlantic right whales are nearing extinction. Experts estimate that less than 400 survive.
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HUGE GOLDEN FISH DISCOVERED IN LAKE SOUTH CAROLINA
The same entangled whale was spotted again in mid-February off the coast of Florida, where a team of experts was sent, but failed to free it.
Conservationists fear that North Atlantic right whales are nearing extinction, as deaths in recent years have outpaced births.
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However, the 2021 birthing season proved to be the best in years. Research teams sent to search for mothers, right whales and newborn calves by plane have so far identified 15 calves – the highest number since 2015.
The birthing season usually runs until mid-April.