UT VETERINARY PATHOLOGIST AIDS WHALE DEATH INVESTIGATION

Dr. David Rotstein, a pathologist at The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM), is helping a federal agency investigate last month’s death of a North Atlantic right whale. The species is on the highly endangered list.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the body of a pregnant female North Atlantic right whale was found on the beach at Ocean Sands, N.C. on November 24.

Preliminary necropsy results indicate that the animal likely died from blood loss owing to a massive wound to the left tail fluke, probably caused by a ship strike. Tissue and bone samples from the wound site were sent to the UT veterinary college.

Rotstein, who has worked with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service on other cases while at North Carolina State University under a Prescott grant, says learning more about the animal’s death is a team effort. “Piecing together the events surrounding this situation is like finding facts in a forensics case. We are one part of a team including individuals who performed the necropsy, and examine ocean currents and other data to try to solve the puzzle.” Rotstein expects to complete his tests and turn over a preliminary report to NOAA within the next three weeks.

For more information and photographs, visit www.nefsc.noaa.gov/press_release/
Sandra Harbison
Media Relations
UT College of Veterinary Medicine
865-974-7377

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