A humpback whale became grounded on a sandbar off the coast of Long Island after getting stuck in Moriches Bay.
The 25-foot whale, estimated to weigh between 15 and 20 tons, is thought to be the same whale spotted a week ago swimming along the Hudson River, The Associated Press reported.
Attempts to move the whale by creating waves were unsuccessful.
It is rare for a humpback whale to travel up the Hudson River, CBS News reported. Dennis Suszkowski, science director of the Hudson River Foundation, and Howard Rosenbaum, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Ocean Giants program, told the network that the whale may have ended up in the river after chasing a meal of bunker fish
Sightings of the whale led to dozens of calls to the U.S. Coast Guard along with posts on social media.
The animal was discovered stuck on the sandbar over the weekend, according to News12 Long Island.
Officials from the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation attempted to free the whale on Sunday but were unsuccessful. The organization posted an update on the situation on its Facebook page, saying "We are considering the whale’s welfare, and are disappointed in the recent turn of events. We are hopeful that the animal will be able to swim out of the bay on its own with higher tides."
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The number of whales in the area has increased every year since 2011, NJ Advance Media reported, citing Gotham Whale president Paul Sieswerda.
He attributed the trend to improved water quality and increased number of bunker fish.
"They're coming back more and more and it's most likely going to be a more common occurrence," Sieswerda said, according to NJ Advance Media.
Twitter users expressed concerns for the whale.
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