The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says another death of a North Atlantic right whale this year has been confirmed. It is the third confirmed death this year.
Marine experts are closely monitoring the right whale population because of high mortality and low reproduction in recent years. The agency says a right whale carcass was found floating about 100 miles (161 kilometers) east of Nantucket on Sunday.
NOAA officials says photographs of the animal show wounds consistent with entanglement, a significant cause of death for right whales. The agency says it’s still too early, however, to speculate on a cause of death.
Right whales number no more than 450 worldwide. About 4 percent of the animal’s population died in 2017.
No new calves were spotted this year.