SPINNAKER WASHED ASHORE DEAD IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK IN MAINE ON JUNE 11, 2015 

SPINNAKER WASHED ASHORE DEAD IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK IN MAINE ON JUNE 11, 2015 

EYES PRESERVED FOR AGEING STUDY

EYES PRESERVED FOR AGEING STUDY

NECROPSY

  • NECROPSY OF SPINNAKER (field number COA150611MN with authority of the National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Stranding Network) WAS CONDUCTED BY THE COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC IN BAR HARBOR, MAINE, ON JUNE 11-15 2015
  • ENTANGLING ROPE WAS STILL PRESENT AND LODGED IN THE ROOF OF HER MOUTH (from September, 2014)
  • HER COLON WAS FULL, INDICATING RECENT FEEDING
  • SAMPLES OF THE KIDNEY, EYE, BALEEN, AND TISSUE PRESERVED FOR SCIENTIFIC STUDIES
TIME LAPSE OF ROOF OF MOUTH WITH GILLNET LINE EMBEDDED (SKULL AFTER ONE MONTH IN COMPOST).
IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHALES AND NAILS HER SKELETAL REMAINS (with entanglement intact) WERE CARTED TO A LARGE COMPOST HEAP TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF PRESERVATION AND ARTICULATION.

IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHALES AND NAILS HER SKELETAL REMAINS (with entanglement intact) WERE CARTED TO A LARGE COMPOST HEAP TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF PRESERVATION AND ARTICULATION.

NECROPSY FINDINGS

  • 35.4 FOOT CARCASS 
  • WHALE HAD LAYERED, RESOLVED, AND UNRESOLVED WRAPPING WOUNDS THROUGHOUT
  • BLUBBER LAYER WAS NORMAL
  • ENTANGLING GEAR DEEPLY EMBEDDING ROOF OF MOUTH WITH SOFT TISSUE GROWTH OVER ROPE
  • HISTOLOGY OF PALATE WOUND DERMIS SHOWED CHRONIC INFLAMMATION BUT NO OBVIOUS SIGN OF INFECTION
  • SKULL CLEANING SHOWED VOMER BONE FRACTURED IN TWO AND BOTH MAXILLAE (the "roof" of the mouth) DEEPLY CLEAVED WITH BONE REGROWTH AT EDGES