Blue Whale Spotted Off Cape May Coast
Veronica Flesher, Patch Staff
Passengers aboard the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center’s latest pelagic trip were hoping to see marine mammals, seabirds, sharks and more. They probably weren’t expecting to see the world’s largest living animal. According to the center, that’s what happened.
The center shared highlights from their 24-hour trip on Sept. 13 and 14 out into the open sea – the pelagic zone – and the most surprising sight was a blue whale:
“We witnessed the largest living animal in the WORLD off the coast of CAPE MAY,” they wrote on the Facebook post. “An Atlantic lifer for EVERY passenger onboard. This RARE event illustrates the incredible ecosystem off our coast. You NEVER know what you may see on a pelagic!”
Blue whales do live in the North Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). But it’s certainly not a very common sight.
In the North Atlantic, blue whales, which are listed as an endangered species, can grow up to 90 feet and are more than 100,000 pounds, according to NOAA Fisheries.
Other marine life witnessed on this trip includes fin whales, dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles, breaching manta rays and a variety of birds.