Humpback Whale Stranded in Moriches Bay Could Be Euthanized, Officials Say

It was over the weekend when a 25-foot humpback whale was spotted on a sandbar in Moriches Bay, struggling to escape. Since then, experts have been monitoring its condition and are hoping it could leave the sand bar on its own.

Riverhead Foundation, a marine research and preservation organization, has been working with the local department of environmental conservation in monitoring the whale, which has been stuck in the middle of Moriches Bay. According to reports, there are high possibilities that the whale was stuck due to low tide.

There had been efforts to move the whale to deeper waters, to no avail. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has even made efforts to create wave actions to boost the whale's motion toward deeper waters. Locals and frustrated on-lookers who live near the bay feel helpless about the young whale's condition that they have made actions to try to help it free. One local even tried dredging the sand to dig a canal to allow for deeper waters. However, due to safety, the police and the coast guard have kept them away.

A few days in, and most efforts are still unsuccessful, and the large animal is still stuck near Long Island. It has been noted that biologists and experts have even attempted to go nearer the whale but was unsuccessful due to the very low tide.

It has been noted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that they cannot, in any way, move the whale physically as it would definitely create internal injuries. One report even claimed that the worst case option for this is the possibility of euthanizing the large sea creature.