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Long Island: Dead Humpback Whale at Lido Beach
Photo: MIKE SEGAR/ REUTERS
A humpback whale has washed ashore in upstate New York.
The approximately eleven meter long animal later died on a beach on Long Island.
The whale was spotted Monday morning at Lido Beach West Town Park.
Officials say the humpback whale was alive when it was found, but died shortly thereafter.
Helpers used a dredger to pull the dead animal away from the water so it wouldn't be washed back into the sea.
Researchers hope to perform an autopsy to better understand what might have caused the whale to beach itself.
The animal reportedly showed no obvious signs of injury.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is responsible for the country's oceans and fisheries, said 19 humpback whales were stranded along the US Atlantic coast last year.
In the first month of this year there were already seven whales from Maine to Florida.
wit/AP