The remains of a rare Bryde’s whale washed up in the Everglades National Forest, park officials said on Thursday.
Officials from the Marine Mammal Stranding Network recovered the 38-foot, 30-ton whale carcass Wednesday. It was loaded onto the flatbed of a semitruck and hauled to Flamingo, where researchers will conduct a necropsy to determine the cause of death.
A deceased Bryde’s whale was found in the park and reported to the marine mammal stranding hotline. We’re supporting our partners NOAA, FWC, and others from the Marine Mammal Stranding Network on the response and will share more details as we learn them. pic.twitter.com/mJAX2lsRXx
— Everglades Natl Park (@EvergladesNPS) January 31, 2019
"(It) may be weeks/months before we know more, but we'll share what we learn," park officials wrote on social media.
Park officials also indicated the Smithsonian Museum is interested in the skeletal remains of the great whale.
#Smithsonian interested in Bryde’s whale skeleton. Tissue samples will be tested to assess health and hopefully cause of death. May be weeks/months before we know more, but we’ll share what we learn. Science in action in our #NationalParks! pic.twitter.com/90To3sm7vc
— Everglades Natl Park (@EvergladesNPS) February 2, 2019
The Bryde's whale (pronounced broodus) is the only year-round baleen whale found in the Gulf of Mexico, park officials said.
More photos of rare Bryde’s whale found deceased in the park. The species is the only year-round resident baleen whale in the Gulf of Mexico. For more details about this species: https://t.co/OaIyLOozni brydes-whale pic.twitter.com/2ELdY1ZdZL
— Everglades Natl Park (@EvergladesNPS) January 31, 2019
The whale is named for Johan Brydes who built the first whaling stations in South Africa in the early 20th century, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.
Researchers believe there are fewer than 100 Bryde's whales in the Gulf of Mexico.
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