EDGARTOWN, Mass. (AP) — Scientists are scheduled to perform a necropsy on the decomposed carcass of a North Atlantic right whale recovered from waters off Martha’s Vineyard.
The crew from the International Fund for Animal Welfare responded to Martha’s Vineyard on Wednesday after the carcass was recovered in Edgartown Great Pong Tuesday.
The deaths of 10 of the endangered mammals in Canadian waters this summer have concerned marine scientists. There are only about 500 North Atlantic right whales left.
IFAW spokeswoman Melanie Mahoney says scientists will try to determine the cause of death and whether this is an undocumented death or one that has already been recorded.
The 25-foot whale is in an advanced state of decomposition.
It could be several weeks before necropsy results are available.