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from Center for Coastal Studies 
Whale #3120 was sighted Feb. 19 a few miles
offshore of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, by researchers
from the Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI).
The whale, a young male, was in a gathering of other
right whales, making approaches difficult. Photographs
show that the animal may be in better condition
compared to the last sighting, but the entanglement
remains complicated.Rope exiting mid-way down the right side of the mouth arches over the nostrils and appears to attach to the left flipper. Though populations of whale lice on the head appear to be less than in earlier sightings and the animal seems to have gained weight, the entanglement has the potential to cause serious harm as this relatively young animal continues to grow. The greatest concern involves the entanglement around the left flipper, where line may become embedded and lead to infection. Researchers have coordinated a search for the animal by air and sea, concentrating in the area of the last known sighting, with the intention of tagging the whale for monitoring and/or disentanglement. Photo courtesy FMRI. View of the head of whale #3120 from the right, rear quarter. Lines exit the arched mouthline and extend over the head and back. Table of content |
| © 2003 Marine Resources Council of East Florida |