This shocking video shared on social media captures the moments immediately after a small boat collides with a minke whale. At the time the video was recorded, the vessel was still rocking from the force of the impact, and one person had already been thrown overboard. Thankfully, the person in the water managed to tread water and was rescued. Sadly, the whale died after the impact. Read on to find out more.
Whale Collision off New Jersey
The incident took place in Barnegat Bay and was captured on video by people on a nearby boat. The boat is rocking violently and seems to be in danger of capsizing. The minke whale is splashing in the water near the boat. News reports revealed that, sadly, the whale’s body was later found on a sandbar in shallow water. Its exact cause of death will be ascertained later when it is retrieved and examined by experts. No obvious injuries were visible on the whale before its body was removed. There were some unconfirmed reports that the whale had injuries prior to the collision and that it later also collided with a pontoon boat.
About Common Minke Whales
Minke whales have bullet-shaped heads.
©iStock.com/danielbenhaim
Common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) are a species of baleen whale found throughout the world, but have a preference for cooler regions. They are rarely seen more than 100 miles from the shore and will inevitably encounter a lot of boats. They even enter estuaries, bays, and lagoons. They grow to a maximum length of around 33 feet, and the females are larger than the males. They are dark in color with a white underbelly, and their heads are pointed, resembling a bullet.
These whales move around either on their own or in small groups of up to four whales. Occasionally, larger groups of hundreds can be found in areas where food is plentiful. We know that these whales are curious and have been seen approaching ships and wharves, which unfortunately places them in danger. They are also agile and can be seen breaching out of the water, similar to dolphins. They are fast swimmers, and some can travel great distances following their food sources. Baleen whales feed by filtering krill, small fish, and other small creatures from seawater. Currently, there is no cause for concern about the minke whale population, but the death of any magnificent animal like this is always upsetting.
