Federal authorities say the carcass of a critically endangered species of whale was found floating off the coast of New Jersey.

A dead North Atlantic right whale is seen off the coast of Long Island, New York in Sept. 2019.
© NY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATIONA dead North Atlantic right whale is seen off the coast of Long Island, New York in Sept. 2019.
The whale was a North Atlantic right whale and it was found on Thursday.

The whales number only about 400, and have suffered high mortality and poor reproduction in recent years.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the whale was found floating off the coast of Elberon, N.J.

The agency and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center are working on performing a necropsy of the animal to determine how it died.

Source: AP