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Experts: Whale Visit may have been a First

Friday, July 28, 2006

SEA ISLE CITY, N.J. - July 28, 2006 (WPVI) -- When experts at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center got a look at our video, they realized that they were not looking at two pilot whales, but two northern bottlenose whales.

They are members of the beaked whale family. Not only that, it is the first time ever that this species of whale has been seen in New Jersey. It is generally found in the deep, deep seas of the North Atlantic.

This species is highly inquisitive and frequently approaches boats. This has made them more susceptible to scientific study, whale watching and unfortunately hunting than the other beaked whales.

The northern bottlenose whale is a social species that travels in groups of 4 to 10 members. They feed on deep-water squid, as well as other invertebrates and various fish species, using sonar to detect their prey; when hunting they dive to very deep depths. This species is unusual as it spends the whole year in cold water, and does not make seasonal migrations like most other whales.

Earlier this year, a northern bottlenose whale became stranded in the Thames in London. It was the first sighted in the river since 1913 and attracted hundreds of curious onlookers.

The whales that washed up on the beach in Sea Isle City have not been seen since Wednesday evening, which experts say is very good news.

Dozens of beachgoers came together Wednesday to save the two stranded whales in Sea Isle City. It's something those people say they will remember for the rest of their lives.

In viewer video, the mother and her calf are seen floundering in just a few feet of water. People jump in to help, spending almost 3 hours trying to get the whales righted, then into deeper water.

It was just before 5pm Wednesday afternoon when a one to two ton female beaked whale and her calf became stranded on Sea Isle City's beach at 25th street.

Eventually the pair would roll to 27th street before being freed.

Experts say the whales were probably some 100 miles from their feeding spot along the food rich continental shelf. How they came to visit Sea Isle may forever be a mystery.

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