Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported a dead endangered right whale calf was found floating off the Georgia coast.
NOAA says they were notified about the whale on Tuesday near Tybee Island. They identified the whale as a female calf that was born last year.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks ]
The whale’s carcass was “heavily scavenged” by sharks, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. A necropsy will be performed.
“It’s going to be challenge to determine the cause of death because it’s been so heavily predated and decayed,” Georgia DNR spokesman Tyler Jones told the Associated Press.
This isn’t the first endangered calf that has died this year. Another was found near the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in January.
TRENDING STORIES: