Humpback Whale Spotted Swimming in New York City's East River
iStockThe humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. With its distinctive body shape, long pectoral fins and penchant for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, humpbacks are a popular species among whale watchers.
In January, New York City police officers spotted a humpback whale in New York City’s East River, along the shores of Manhattan's upper East Side, close to Gracie Mansion, where Mayor Bill de Blasio lives.
Humpback whale sightings are more common than people imagine. According to Gotham Whale, a New York-based New York City's whale research and advocacy organization, 50 whales have been spotted in the city since 2011.
North Atlantic humpbacks breed in Caribbean waters near the Dominican Republic, but travel north to the colder, fish-rich waters of the Arctic. Fully grown humpbacks can measure up to 50 feet in length, and weigh up to 33 tons.
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iStockLike other large whales, the humpback was once hunted to the brink of extinction. While their population numbers have partially recovered, entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships and noise pollution continue to impact the population of 80,000, which is why New York City police report sightings.
Experts believe the presence of humpback whales in the East River is due to the increase in the local population of menhaden — a type of Atlantic fish favored by whales – thanks to clean-up projects and fishing caps in and around New York State.
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The Whale Watcher and Rockaway Ferry boat serves as the platform for Gotham Whale's research. During the summer, whale adventure trips are scheduled Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
