Injured baby whale is euthanized after washing ashore on a Bronx beach and refusing to return to the sea

  • Baby minke whale washed ashore Orchard Beach in the Bronx Sunday morning 
  • The 10-foot long whale had visible scarring on its body, according to authorities 
  • Officers and rescue crews tried to return whale to sea but it refused to swim 
  • It was later determined whale had to be euthanized and it was taken to Bronx Zoo
  • Officials said it's unclear how whale washed up at beach and how it was injured 

By Valerie Edwards For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

An injured baby whale that washed ashore a beach in the Bronx had to be put down, despite desperate attempts from police and rescue crews to save it. 

The 10-foot long minke whale was spotted around 11.41am on Sunday at Orchard Beach. 

An NYPD spokesman said the whale had visible scarring on its body, according to AM New York. 

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An injured baby whale that washed ashore a beach in the Bronx had to be put down, despite desperate attempts from police and rescue crews to save it. The 10-foot long minke whale (pictured) was spotted around 11.41am on Sunday at Orchard Beach

An injured baby whale that washed ashore a beach in the Bronx had to be put down, despite desperate attempts from police and rescue crews to save it. The 10-foot long minke whale (pictured) was spotted around 11.41am on Sunday at Orchard Beach

Officers and other city agencies tried to help the whale but it refused to return to the sea. A bystander said crews took the whale out 'pretty far' before the whale 'swam in a complete circle' and came back to the shallow beach

Officers and other city agencies tried to help the whale but it refused to return to the sea. A bystander said crews took the whale out 'pretty far' before the whale 'swam in a complete circle' and came back to the shallow beach

The NYPD's Harbor and Emergency Services units, along with a marine specialist, used straps to keep the animal in the water, until help came later in the day 

The NYPD's Harbor and Emergency Services units, along with a marine specialist, used straps to keep the animal in the water, until help came later in the day 

Officers and other city agencies tried to help the whale but it refused to return to the sea. A bystander said crews took the whale out 'pretty far'  before the whale 'swam in a complete circle' and came back to the shallow beach.

The NYPD's Harbor and Emergency Services units, along with a marine specialist, used straps to keep the animal in the water, until help came later in the day. 

Authorities from the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation arrived later in the day and determined the sea creature had to be euthanized. It was then transported to the Bronx Zoo to be put down. 

An autopsy will be performed to determine if the whale had gotten sick.

The chief scientist at the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society told Fox 5 that they 'didn't want the animal to be suffering by going down to the bottom, so humane euthanasia was the best choice we had'. 

The baby minke whale was discovered stranded in the shallows at Orchard Beach around noon, authorities said. Several bystanders gathered around to watch rescue crews try and help the baby whale. 

Bronx construction worker, Bob Doran, told the New York Post that they baby whale 'had abrasions underneath his belly'.

Doran said he was 'stunned' when he saw the sea animal because Orchard Beach is shallow. It's still unclear what caused the minke whale's injuries.  

The baby minke whale was discovered stranded in the shallows at Orchard Beach around noon, authorities said. Several bystanders (pictured) gathered around to watch rescue crews try and help the baby whale

The baby minke whale was discovered stranded in the shallows at Orchard Beach around noon, authorities said. Several bystanders (pictured) gathered around to watch rescue crews try and help the baby whale

The chief scientist at the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society said they 'didn't want the animal to be suffering by going down to the bottom, so humane euthanasia was the best choice we had'. Pictured are officers attempting to help the whale

The chief scientist at the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society said they 'didn't want the animal to be suffering by going down to the bottom, so humane euthanasia was the best choice we had'. Pictured are officers attempting to help the whale

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