MERR looking into beached whale in Bethany Beach

BETHANY BEACH, Del. – The Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR) is looking into the circumstances surrounding a beached whale in Bethany Beach.

MERR responded to a juvenile male humpback whale on Thursday, that was first seen two days prior, floating at sea about 2 miles off the Indian River Inlet.

The 30-foot whale eventually beached near a private community near Bethany Beach in the early afternoon.

At this time, MERR does not have enough information to determine a cause of death.

The group is attempting to coordinate with DNREC to get equipment to move the whale out of the water and onto the beach so more studies can be conducted.