Body Of Endangered Whale Washes Up On Beach

One of the most endangered whales in the world has washed up dead on a beach in northeast Florida.

Officials said the 26ft-long (8 metre) North Atlantic right whale washed up overnight on a beach near Palm Coast.

Federal marine spokesman Barb Zoodsma says biologists are not sure what caused the death.

A necropsy will be conducted on the beach since the one-year-old whale is too large to move. The whale will then be buried on the beach.

There are fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales left in the world.

The whales are found from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia. Pregnant females travel to waters off the southeast coast to give birth.

Vessel strikes and entanglement in fixed fishing gear are the two greatest threats to their recovery.