MERR is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of marine mammals and sea turtles

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MERR Institute, Inc.
P.O. Box 411
Nassau, DE 19969
(302) 228-5029

Raw Video of Baby Seal WBOC Chopper 16 Video of Baby Seal Raw Video of Baby Seal You'll need a version of Windows Media Player 7 or higher to view the video. If you need to download it, go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer/en/default.asp. The video player is supported by Microsoft IE 5.0 and abov

 
 

Humpback Whale Washes onto Cape Henlopen Shore A huge whale lying dead on the Delaware shore could hold a clue to a string of washed up whales along the East Coast. The 33-foot, 40,000 pound decomposing carcass of a humpback whale washed up on the shore of Cape Henlopen near Lewes. WBOC's Oren Liebermann reports from the scene. You'll need a version of Windows Media Player 7 or higher to view the video. If you need to download it, go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer/en/default.asp. The video player is supported by Microsoft IE 5.0 and above.

A 55 foot Fin Whale washed up on Middlesex Beach near South Bethany Beach, DE on 5/13/06.  It is estimated that this adult female weighed 70,000 lbs or more based on her length.  Fin Whales are the second largest whale in the world, and can grow to be 72 feet in length and weigh as much as 80 tons.  These whales are baleen whales, having up to 480 baleen plates hanging from each side of the upper jaw.  These are used to strain small fish and sea creatures out of the ocean water.  Fin whales are characterized by the asymmetrical coloration around the  mouth.  The left side, including the baleen, is dark while the right side is white.  This may provide a camouflage affect while catching prey, which the whale does while swimming on it's right side.  Fin Whales are migratory animals, passing the Delaware Coast in the Spring and Fall.  Pelagic creatures, Fin Whales are frequently sighted further off of the coast during the summer months. 

It was determined that the stranded whale needed to be towed to another location for burial, at which time transport became an almost insurmountable task.  With the assistance of the Division of Soil and Water and several pieces of heavy equipment, this task was finally accomplished.  MERR volunteers assisted throughout the 3 day stranding response, collecting samples for scientific analysis, as well as specimens for educational purposes.  The skull from this whale will eventually be on display as a permanent part of the education exhibit at the MERR Institute.  The cause of death has not been determined.