Humpback Whale Strands in Kitty Hawk: Investigation Underway

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A dead juvenile female humpback whale washed up near Bennett Street Beach Access in Kitty Hawk, NC on 27 December 2024.

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Wildlife authorities found clear shark scavenging around the 27-foot-long whale.

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Marina Doshkov confirmed a necropsy would be performed to determine the cause of death of the whale.

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Local resident Charlie Parker recently saw whales near the shore and said the event is "sad."

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Observer Caroline York called attention to the impact of humans on marine life over environmental concerns.

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North Carolina has had a few instances of whale stranding, including Corolla and Pea Island, this year 2024.

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NOAA clarified that this whale was not entangled in fishing gear, as in an earlier whale seen last month.

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The government warned people not to touch the whale as it is under protection by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

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