Well Known Biologists Study Beached Whale

AVALON, NEW JERSEY--A rare wash up in Avalon is getting major attention as world renowned biologists head to the Jersey shore to examine the large sea creature. The find is so unique that even officials with the Smithsonian are excited.

It was a discovery that shocked beachgoers in Avalon yesterday, and now even a day later, the large whale is still getting a lot of attention, but this time in the borough's public works yard. "It's amazing," said Don Diehl, who works there, "we've seen dolphins wash up and turtles, big sea turtles, but this is definitely something different."

So different, it's gained the attention of a world renowned marine biologist with the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. James Mead, who traveled here today from Washington, D.C. to examine the 14-and-a-half foot whale. "Magnificent," said the doctor as he measured the creature.

Experts have determined by looking at the position of the animals teeth that it is not a True's beaked whale as initially thought, but actually an even rarer species. "It turns out to be a Gulf Stream beaked whale," said Mead, "it's very very rare."

While little is still known about what caused this deep sea creature to come ashore, biologists have been able to determine it's a nearly 3,000 pound male, and it could be close to 70 years old. "We very rarely get a cause of death in these stranded animals," said Mead. He says this type of whale is so rare, there have only been about 60 of the species that have been stranded in the U.S. in the last 150 years. "We have only one other adult male in the collection. This doubles our samples of adult males."

While experts continue to examine the creature, they admit they may never figure out a cause of death, but say there's a lot more to learn about something so unique.

The biologists will transport the whale's entire skeleton to the Smithsonian for further studies. They say they have so few records on the species, they can't wait to learn more about it.