Three beluga whales have been spotted off the coast of Long Island. The species is native to the Arctic, making this sighting in the waters of New York highly unusual. The three marine mammals, each about eight feet long, are believed to be juvenile males that could grow to be between 10 and 13 feet long in adulthood.
Cetacean biologists believe the marine mammals may have traveled 940 miles south from St. Lawrence Estuary in Canada — a journey estimated to take eight weeks. They were first spotted on May 10, off the coast of Rhode Island, and researchers believe they could be headed further south and to the east.
As the whales spend more time beyond their frigid home waters, they may become curious, and even start to play with humans traveling on ships. Biologists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are warning people who may be crossing those waters not to engage the gentle giants. Anyone who does see one of the animals while out boating should stay at least 150 feet away from the creatures for the safety of the whales.
"If that were to happen to someone, exit the water and [do] not encourage that type of behavior, which reinforces them to stay in the area, which makes it that much more difficult for them to survive and head back to where they should be," said Jamison Smith, a NOAA Fisheries biologist.
These animals have come so close to shore that they have been seen by people on the shore at Manhasset Bay in western Long Island. They have already come close to some ships, including commercial vehicles.
"Look at this, right under the boat. And it turns around, it stops, it looks up at me," said Matt Meyran, of Port Washington Water Taxi.
Marine biologists took a small skin sample from one of the belugas, in order to diagnose their health and determine if the visitors are actually from the area in Canada as they were last seen in 2013. If there are any indications of disease in the first skin sample, biopsies could be taken from the other two whales to determine their health. Biologists in that region have identified one of the animals through a photograph, recognizing it as a member of the St. Lawrence population.
Morbillivirus – a disease much like measles – is spreading among whales, porpoises and dolphins. Marine biologists are concerned that if these animals have become infected with the virus, the disease could affect the broader population of whales living in St. Lawrence, with potentially disastrous results.
Biologists believe the three travelers may be following food, and will continue to monitor the position and health of the wayward whales as they continue on their journey.
