Humpback Whale Still Alive, Remains Stranded on Sandbar in Moriches Bay

WESTHAMPTON, NY — A humpback whale remains stranded on a Moriches Bay sandbar, according to the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation.

A report by News12 said the 25-foot whale was first spotted stuck on a sandbar in Moriches Bay over the weekend — and despite the hope that high tide might help to move the whale, so far, he's stayed put, and with each day that passes, fears mount for the whale's survival.

According to a Facebook post by the Riverhead Foundation, the whale that has been observed in Moriches Bay over the past week is currently grounded in the middle of the bay, near Hart’s Cove.

The Riverhead Foundation is continuing to monitor the whale's behavior and condition, the post said. On Sunday, Riverhead Foundation biologists went out on boats with the help of Southampton Town bay constables and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to monitor the whale; efforts to create wave actions to help move the whale off the sand bar were unsuccessful, the Riverhead Foundation said.

"An attempt to get on the water closer to the animal’s location to observe its condition this morning was unsuccessful due to the extremely low tide and high winds," the post said. "From land, it does appear that the animal’s orientation has shifted to the east, based on yesterday’s observations. We are considering the whale’s welfare, and are disappointed in the recent turn of events."

The hope remains that the whale will be able to swim out of the bay on its own, with higher tides.

The Riverhead Foundation said they will continue to consult with NOAA Fisheries and whale experts on the best course of action and will keep the whale's best interests at the "forefront of discussions."

Humpback whales were also seen frolicking in the Long Island Sound in 2015.

Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org by User:russavia.