新泽西州格洛斯特市死了之后鲸在停靠在新泽西的一艘集装箱船的船首发现了这一动物尸体，当局周二正努力移走尸体并确定这种濒危动物的死因。
总部位于新泽西州的动物救援服务机构海洋哺乳动物搁浅中心在一篇社交媒体帖子中说，美国海岸警卫队周日在格洛斯特海运码头报告了这头鲸鱼。该港口位于连接新泽西州和宾夕法尼亚州的沃尔特·惠特曼大桥的底部。
该中心周二在一篇后续帖子中表示，它正在努力拖走鲸鱼尸体，以便进行尸检并确定鲸鱼的死因。
美国国家海洋和大气管理局(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)周二证实，其执法办公室已对这起死亡事件展开调查，但拒绝进一步置评。它说，任何人有关于这头死鲸的信息都应该拨打该机构的热线。
该中心表示，死亡的动物被认为是一条长25至30英尺(7.6至9.1米)的长须鲸。众所周知，这种濒危物种生活在从新泽西州南部到纽约市的水域中。
大型哺乳动物的数量逐渐康复由于商业狩猎而濒临灭绝后的保护努力。所有海豚、鼠海豚和鲸鱼都受到联邦海洋哺乳动物保护法的保护，该法规定触摸、喂食或以其他方式伤害它们都是非法的。
长须鲸是仅次于蓝鲸的第二大动物。完全长大后，它们可以达到85英尺(25.9米)长，重量在40到80吨之间(36.3到72.6公吨)。
这种巨型哺乳动物遍布世界各地，受到船只撞击、渔具缠绕和气候变化影响等挑战的威胁。
Dead whale found on bow of ship in New Jersey sparks investigation
GLOUCESTER CITY, N.J. --After a deadwhalewas found on the bow of a container ship docked in New Jersey, authorities were working Tuesday to remove the carcass and determine the endangered animal's cause of death.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, a New Jersey-based animal rescue service, said in a social media post that the whale was reported Sunday by the U.S. Coast Guard at the Gloucester Marine Terminal. The port is at the base of the Walt Whitman Bridge linking New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The center said in a follow-up post Tuesday that it was working to tow the carcass away in order to conduct a necropsy and determine how the whale died.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday confirmed its enforcement office has opened an investigation into the death but declined to comment further. It said anyone with information about the dead whale should call the agency's hotline.
The deceased animal is believed to be a fin whale between 25 to 30 feet long (7.6 to 9.1 meters), the center said. The endangered species is known to swim in waters from southern New Jersey to the New York City area.
Populations of the massive mammals havegradually recoveredin the Atlantic Ocean thanks to conservation efforts after becoming nearly extinct from commercial hunting. All dolphins, porpoises and whales are protected by the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes touching, feeding or otherwise harming them illegal.
Fin whales are the second-largest animals behind the blue whale. Fully grown, they can reach up to 85 feet (25.9 meters) long and weigh between 40 and 80 tons (36.3 and 72.6 metric tons).
The giant mammals are found throughout the world and are threatened by ship strikes, fishing gear entanglements and the effects of climate change, among other challenges.
