Dead Fin Whale Found on NJ Container Ship

A dead fin whale, an endangered species, was discovered lodged against the bow of a container ship docked at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, New Jersey, on Sunday evening, prompting a federal investigation into the cause of its death. The U.S. Coast Guard reported the finding around 11:15 p.m., alerting wildlife officials to the carcass of the approximately 25- to 30-foot-long marine mammal, which was already deceased when spotted.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, a New Jersey-based nonprofit, confirmed the discovery and coordinated the response alongside local and federal partners. Crews arrived at the scene on Monday to stabilize the whale's body before carefully removing it from the vessel and transporting it to a secure staging area. Experts there plan to conduct a necropsy to determine the precise cause of death, confirm the species and assess any injuries, such as those from a vessel strike. The center described the effort as an active investigation, with its volunteer team preparing for the detailed examination.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Law Enforcement has opened a formal probe to establish when and where the...