Previously entangled North Atlantic right whale found dead off North Carolina coast

AVON, N.C. (WTOC) - An entangled North Atlantic right whale known as “Division” was found dead approximately 25 miles offshore of Avon, North Carolina, on January 27, according to NOAA Fisheries.

The 4-year-old male whale, designated as #5217, died from entanglement injuries. Only a partial carcass remains due to active scavenging by sharks, many of which were visible around the whale when discovered.

NOAA Fisheries and partners had monitored Division’s movements via telemetry since his partial disentanglement in December 2025. Tracking showed he moved north into waters off New England, then back south again.

Aerial visual assessments showed declining health and worsening injuries due to his entanglement. Poor weather and his distance from shore prevented teams from conducting further boat-based disentanglement efforts.

Recently, the satellite track began showing a movement pattern more consistent with drifting than active travel.

A Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute aerial survey team flew over the area of recent telemetry transmissions off North Carolina on January 27. Despite unfavorable weather and high seas, teams documented the floating partial carcass.

Scientists from the New England Aquarium reviewed images of the carcass and confirmed it was Division. Due to weather-related dangerous ocean conditions and distance from shore, there will be no attempts to recover the carcass for examination.

Division was first spotted entangled off Jekyll Island, Georgia, on December 3, 2025. The whale had several lines wrapping his head and mouth, including one cutting into his blowhole.

Authorized responders from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources removed some gear on December 3 and 4. On December 4, responders cut the line passing over the left side of Division’s head and blowholes, enabling them to remove line that was cutting into his left flipper.

Responders also shortened the line exiting the right side of the mouth and reattached a telemetry buoy to the remaining entangling gear.

Division was previously added to the ongoing Unusual Mortality Event as a “serious injury” case, meaning he was likely to die as a result of his entanglement. He will now be moved to the mortality total for dead animals documented in the event.

Division is the 168th individual documented in the ongoing North Atlantic right whale Unusual Mortality Event, which includes dead, seriously injured, or otherwise health-compromised whales.