Whale Sighting Sparks Caution in East River

A rare sighting of a whale, likely a humpback, was reported in the East River under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, causing excitement and caution among New Yorkers. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the sighting but could not specify whether it was a humpback or North Atlantic right whale, although evidence suggests it was a humpback, based on a photo shared on iNaturalist. Danielle Brown from Gotham Whale highlighted that while unusual, such sightings are not unprecedented, with the last East River occurrence in 2022 and another in the Hudson River in 2020. The whale's appearance is attributed to feeding behavior, as it may have been following fish like Atlantic menhaden into the river. The Coast Guard warned boaters to proceed cautiously, and Brown emphasized the risks posed to whales in these busy urban waters. Despite the excitement, the whale's current whereabouts remain uncertain.