Right whale found dead off Virginia’s Eastern Shore

VIRGINIA – The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team is investigating the the death of a North Atlantic right whale.

Wednesday, crews responded to the deceased whale on a barrier island off of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Biologists from The Nature Conservancy reported to NOAA Fisheries about the discovery and assisted the Stranding Response Team in accessing the remote area.

Officials say the critically endangered whale was a 3-year-old female.

The Stranding Response Team completed an in-field autopsy and tissue samples were collected.

The cause of death is still being determined.