By Beth David, Editor
A 17-foot juvenile minke whale washed up on shore at the southernmost tip of Hoppy’s Landing on Tuesday, 9/24/19. Fairhaven Harbormaster Tim Cox, Animal Control Officer Terry Cripps, and other officials arrived on scene in the morning and worked to keep the whale alive. Officials from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) arrived on scene and assisted.
IFAW personnel determined that the whale needed to be euthanized “due to suspected illness and stress,” according to a press release from the Fairhaven Harbormaster’s office.
Olivia Guerra, an IFAW spokesperson said on scene that: “There is an unusual mortality rate for these minke Whales.”
The whale, which is believed to be about one year old, was removed from the water with assistance from West Island Marina personnel and equipment. The whale will be autopsied to determine the nature of the stranding.
“I would like to thank everybody that came out today to help and try to save the whale,” wrote Mr. Cox on Facebook. “My deputies, Fairhaven Animal Control, Fairhaven Fire, Fairhaven Police, Fairhaven TV, IFAW, and West Island Marina.”
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- A Minke whale that stranded on Hoppy’s Landing in Fairhaven on 9/24/19 is evaluated and eventually euthanized by personnel from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, after it was determined that the whale was too sick from illness and stress to return back to sea. Photo by Glenn C. Silva.
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- A Minke whale that stranded on Hoppy’s Landing in Fairhaven on 9/24/19 is evaluated and eventually euthanized by personnel from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, after it was determined that the whale was too sick from illness and stress to return back to sea. Photo by Glenn C. Silva.
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- A Minke whale that stranded on Hoppy’s Landing in Fairhaven on 9/24/19 is evaluated and eventually euthanized by personnel from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, after it was determined that the whale was too sick from illness and stress to return back to sea. Photo by Glenn C. Silva.
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- A Minke whale that stranded on Hoppy’s Landing in Fairhaven on 9/24/19 is evaluated and eventually euthanized by personnel from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, after it was determined that the whale was too sick from illness and stress to return back to sea. Photo by Glenn C. Silva.
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- A Minke whale that stranded on Hoppy’s Landing in Fairhaven on 9/24/19 is evaluated and eventually euthanized by personnel from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, after it was determined that the whale was too sick from illness and stress to return back to sea. Photo by Glenn C. Silva.
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- Fairhaven Town officials keep their distance and keep the public away from a stranded juvenile minke whale at Hoppy’s Landing on 9/24/19 while waiting for officials from the International Fund for Animal Welfare to arrive. Photo by Beth David.
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- A stranded juvenile minke whale, believed to be about one year old, is still alive at Hoppy’s Landing on 9/24/19 at about 10 a.m. Photo by Beth David.
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- A stranded juvenile minke whale, believed to be about one year old, is still alive at Hoppy’s Landing on 9/24/19 at about 10 a.m. Photo by Beth David.
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- Members of the public and press watch as a Minke whale is evaluated and eventually euthanized after it was stranded on Hoppy’s Landing in Fairhaven on 9/24/19. Photo by Glenn C. Silva.
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- A Minke whale that stranded on Hoppy’s Landing in Fairhaven on 9/24/19 is evaluated and eventually euthanized by personnel from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, after it was determined that the whale was too sick from illness and stress to return back to sea. Photo by Glenn C. Silva.
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- A juvenile Minke Whale that had to be euthanized after it beached on Hoppy’s Landing in Fairhaven on 9/24/19, is lifted up out of the water to be transported for an autopsy. Photo courtesy of Fairhaven Marine Resources Department.
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- A juvenile Minke Whale that had to be euthanized after it beached on Hoppy’s Landing in Fairhaven on 9/24/19, is about to be lifted up out of the water to be transported for an autopsy. Photo courtesy of Fairhaven Marine Resources Department.
