Volunteers Unable To Save Whale That Washed Up On Delaware Bay Beach

CAPE MAY COUNTY, NJ (CBS) -- A young minke whale washed up on a Delaware Bay beach in Cape May County, NJ over the weekend. Beach goers reported seeing the whale close to the shore on Saturday evening and notified officials from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

The whale was unable to survive the ordeal.

The whale washed ashore on Sunday and died shortly after doing so.

Officials with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center suspect starvation to be the main cause of death and speculated that the young whale had been away from his mother for an extended period of time.

Bob Schoelkopf, the founding member of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, explained that it is odd to see minke whales that far up the bay and that it is concerning because it is the second to wash ashore in the past few months. The first one also died after washing ashore in Cumberland County.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center urges citizens to contact them immediately if they spot a marine mammal that is sick or in trouble. Their 24-hour number is (609)266-0538.