Dead Humpback whale washes up at Lido Beach West Town park

A dead juvenile humpback whale has washed ashore at Lido Beach West Town Park on Monday afternoon.

The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society responded to the deceased humpback whale, which was initially found approximately 1.5 miles offshore near Jones Beach, at around 2 p.m. and officials said they are working on securing the animal.

On Monday, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen released a statement on Twitter.

“A sad afternoon as a deceased juvenile humpback whale washed up on Lido Beach West,” Gillen said. “Town depts are responding and residents are warned to keep a safe distance of at least 150 ft away. Though deceased, whales can suddenly explode after they die due to the buildup of methane gas.”

The agency is working with the U.S. Coast Guard, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic, Nassau Police Marine Bureau and Town of Hempstead to coordinate a response plan.

This is the second whale in over two months that has washed up ashore in the area. The previous whale was found in Long Beach at Laurelton Boulevard beach on August 17 and due to an advanced state of decomposition, the cause of death could not be determined.

Rachel Bosworth, a spokesperson for the conservation society, said that a necropsy would be conducted tomorrow morning to determine the cause of death of the whale.

According to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, this was the eighth humpback whale incident in New York that it has responded to this year. The agency urged residents to report any sightings of dead or distressed marine animals to the NYS Stranding Hotline at (631) 369-9829.

This is a developing story.