Officials are searching for an entangled humpback whale that was spotted at the Jersey Shore.
The whale was spotted Friday afternoon about two miles east of Sandy Hook. The sighting was not immediately reported however according to Danielle Browne, a Field Stranding Technician with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. Officials say they are unsure of the whale’s location.
The whale is dragging a yellow trap buoy and a yellow flag. Officials believe a rope is attached to its pectoral fin and the buoy is 20-feet back from its tail and can only be seen whenever the whale drives.
The Facebook group Gotham Whale posted photos of the entangled whale in hopes of getting the mammal help.
If you see the whale, do not approach it or try to remove the equipment. Instead report the sighting to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center at 609-266-0538 or NOAA at 1-866-755-6622.
