Young humpback whale calf found in Maine river was severely emaciated
Marine Mammals of Maine says the young female calf had very little muscle or fat and few stomach contents
PHIPPSBURG, Maine —
The Marine Mammals of Maine stranding hotline received a report of a deceased humpback whale in the New Meadows River in Phippsburg on Friday afternoon.
MMoME performed a full internal and external evaluation that found the 20-foot female calf was emaciated and had very little muscle or fat and few stomach contents.
The findings showed that the whale was between 6 and 9 months old and still maternally dependent.
MMoME said that samples they collected will be sent for histopathology and that there were no other gross necropsy findings.
“This was an incredibly sad case, but we are grateful for the opportunity to document her life and passing,” said MMoME in a social media post.
MMoME went on to recognize the help they received from the community for transporting the whale and conducting the necropsy.