The whale found dead at a port along the Delaware River last week had fishing gear on its fins and in its throat, something that officials believe contributed to its death, a report says.
A dead whale, like this one, was found at an area port. (File Photo)
Found floating at a berth at the Port of Wilmington Friday morning, the young humpback whale was 25 to 30 feet long, according to Delawareonline.com.
"We determined that the whale had a significant wound in the mouth resulting from the presence of the line/rope, and that the gear was lodged in the animal's throat, undoubtedly causing significant pain and inhibiting the animal's ability to feed properly," Suzanne Thurman, executive director of Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute in Lewes, Delaware, said, according to the report.
There were also wounds on the mammal's body also believed to have been caused by the gear, which included fishing lines.
The fishing gear was being sent to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Law Enforcement to help determine who owned it and where the whale may have come in contact with it, Delawareonline said.
The port is located where the Christina River meets the Delaware River just north of the Delaware Memorial Bridge in Wilmington, Delaware.
Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.