Earth's Largest Living Animal Visits the Jersey Shore

My post title almost sounds like something from a sci-fi horror film, but it is true and quite wonderful.

On Sept. 12, a blue whale surfaced in the Atlantic Ocean about 50 to 60 miles off the coast of Cape May, New Jersey. This endangered species is the world's largest animal and isn't often spotted in that part of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Example of a blue whale - NOAA Photo

Blue whales can be found in every ocean in the world, but they're most populous in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Atlantic Ocean, they're most often spotted in waters east of Canada, including the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the North Atlantic, blue whales can measure up to 90 feet long and sometimes weigh more than 100,000 pounds. Antarctic blue whales can grow even larger, reaching 110 feet in length and weighing up to 330,000 pounds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Blue whales are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act and like other endangered species are protected in the waters off NJ. The World Wildlife Fund estimates only 10,000 to 25,000 blue whales remain in the world, down from as many as 250,000 before whaling decimated their populations. They were the industry's most sought after whale species due to their size and economic yields for blubber oil and food. The species remains threatened by ship strikes, fishing gear, exposure to toxins and environmental change. 

Whale watchers off the coast of Cape May with Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center got a rare glimpse during a wildlife research trip. NOAA previously recorded three blue whale sightings near Montauk Point, New York in 2008, and this sighting illustrates the incredible ecosystem off our coast.

The center shared photos  on their Facebook page showing the blue whale in the water, in addition to other wildlife spotted during the trip. 

An NOAA spokesperson confirmed to the Asbury Park Press that the creature seen off the coast of Cape May was a blue whale. They can be distinguished by a small dorsal fin on the lower part of their bodies and the aquamarine appearance of their skin underwater. Laurino said the whale was in an area about 200 feet deep. It was alone and retreated underwater after it had surfaced for about 15 minutes. Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center has conducted ecological tours of the Atlantic Ocean since 1987. The American Star is usually out on the water about 200 days per year. The researchers often spot a wide variety of wildlife — from dolphin and whale species to manta rays, sea turtles and birds — but the people aboard the boat earlier this month witnessed a first.