Massachusetts

Officials Respond to Beached Whale at Duxbury Beach

Marine biologists responded to a beached whale Monday that washed ashore at Duxbury Beach in Massachusetts.

Duxbury police announced that the immediate area would be closed until further notice as officials tend to the animal.

The 52-foot male fin whale’s body washed ashore before 7:30 a.m. Marine biologists first spotted it Sunday night about 10 nautical miles off Scituate.

Biologists spent Monday afternoon performing a necropsy while a crowd gathered on the beach to watch.

"It is really important to get the information we can from this animal. We don't get many fin backs washed up, especially as fresh as this one is," said one biologist.

Scientists said the whale did show some sign of human interaction but aren't sure yet what role it may have played in its death.

"It's just unbelievable. We come out here all the time and go to the beach, it's so sad," said one beach goer.

Biologists performed a necropsy on a minke whale that was found along the coast in nearby Marshfield earlier this month.

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