Photographer snaps image of beluga whales swimming in Shrewsbury River
Beluga whales swimming in the Shrewsburg River near Bahrs Marina in Highlands on Sunday. (Image courtesy of Bahrs Landing)
A photographer recently snapped an image of beluga whales swimming in the Shrewsbury River.
According to the dockmaster at Bahrs Marina in Highlands, identified as “Big Ed,” the two whales were spotted 50 feet off the property’s main dock on Sunday.
An additional whale is reportedly swimming with the juvenile pod, which has spent time in the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers in northern Monmouth County.
They are believed to be the same whales that appeared off Rhode Island on Mother’s Day and in Long Island waters over the Memorial Day weekend.
Marine Mammal Stranding Center director Bob Schoelkopf tells the Asbury Park Press the rivers can become death traps for whales and dolphins because their headwaters become unnavigable.
Schoelkopf hopes the recent heavy rainfall will lower the salinity in the rivers and the whales will return to sea.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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