VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the cause of death for the female North Atlantic right whale found 50 miles off the southern Virginia Beach coast.
The whale was found on Saturday, March 30, and was identified as female #1950.
This is the seventh recent whale death off the coast of Hampton Roads and the Outer Banks.
The preliminary investigations revealed that the whale suffered catastrophic injuries with a dislocation of the whale’s spine and fractures to the lower back. These injuries are consistent with blunt force trauma for a vessel strike prior to death.
Vessel strikes are a leading cause of the ongoing North Atlantic right whale Unusual Mortality Event, according to the NOAA. This whale also had a young dependent calf, which isn’t expected to survive without its mother. The calf hasn’t been seen since.