Natural Order at Sea
February 24 - Biologists from Florida Fish and Wildlife were flying a whale survey when they spotted a dead whale 26 nm east of Cumberland Island. They returned that afternoon by boat and attached a satellite tracker. Biologists hoped to tow the carcass in and perform a necropsy to determine cause of death, but it was too far from shore. Photo by FL Fish and Wildlife February 25 - Sea to Shore Alliance takes more aerial images, confirming that the whale was a one-year-old 28-foot humpback that had been spotted over the winter in poor health. It had been spotted alive only four days prior. Ten or more sharks are seen scavaging the carcass, including a 9- to 10foot white shark and a 6- to 8-foot tiger shark. Photos by Sea to Shore Alliance.
February 26 - GADNR Wildlife Resources team, led by Clay George inspected the carcass and shot underwater video footage in an attempt to spot wounds or fishing gear that might have caused the whale's death. The footage was inconclusive. Video and additional stills can be viewed on YouTube by searching "Shark vs. whale carcass off Georgia Coast." Photos by GADNR WRD, Nongame Conservation February 28 - The last day the remains were seen, 18 nm east of Amelia Island, with sharks still circling. The satellite tracker stopped signaling the next day, presumably because the carcass sank. Photo by Florida Fish and Wildlife
