Whale Washes Up on Sunset Beach 

Whale Washes Up on Sunset Beach 

Onlookers at Sunset Beach, near Cape May, witnessed a heartbreaking event on Tuesday when a Minke whale was discovered stranded along the 500 block of Sunset Boulevard.

First reported around 3 p.m., the incident drew attention from local residents, conservation groups, and news organizations alike.

The whale, described as barely alive, displayed limited signs of breathing when first spotted.

Crews from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) were dispatched to the scene to assess the situation.

By 5 p.m., the whale was still flapping but severely weakened. Despite the presence of heavy equipment on site, efforts to return the marine mammal to the ocean were deemed unfeasible.

According to the onlookers, the whale exhibited no visible injuries, such as cuts or bleeding. Those are usually the symptoms if a whale had been hit by a ship in the water.

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After careful evaluation, the MMSC determined the whale could not survive its condition and made the difficult decision to euthanize the animal to prevent further suffering.

The euthanization process was completed around sunset. Following the procedure, a coordinated effort took place to bury the whale on the beach.

Multiple organizations and local entities participated in the effort to help save the whale, including Cape May Point Public Works, the Fire Department, the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Cape May Police, and concerned citizens.

Environmental advocacy groups like Save Our Shores and anti-wind turbine organizations also took interest in the event, voicing broader concerns about marine mammal strandings and their potential causes.

While some might suggest that the radar surveying that is taking place in South Jersey led to this event, but at this time there is no reason to assume that.

While the exact cause of the whale’s stranding remains unclear, the incident underscores the vulnerability of marine life along New Jersey’s coast. The Minke whale, a species commonly found in temperate and polar waters, rarely strands on shorelines.

Environmental factors and possible health issues may have contributed to this whale’s unfortunate demise. We reached out to the MMSC for a comment but haven’t heard back as of yet.

If you see a whale, dolphin or seal on any beach at the Jersey Shore, always call the Marine Mammal Stranding Center at (609) 266-0538. This hotline is always staffed and crews are ready to move at a moments notice.