July, 15 2009 -- A 20-foot-long basking shark washed up on Gilgo Beach, on New York's Long Island, Tuesday morning with no visible wounds or injuries, officials said.
Surfers watched the enormous basking shark circle the waves and then wash up on a town beach a few miles east of Jones Beach. It was dead by the time officials arrived, Newsday reported.
The creature is estimated to weigh 2,000 pounds.
Tracy Marcus of Cornell Cooperative Extension told The Associated Press the shark probably had some kind of illness.
New York State Parks official George Gorman said researchers would examine the shark to determine how it died. After that, it will be buried in nearby sand dunes.
Basking sharks are common in the waters off Long Island, where they feast on plankton. Basking sharks aren't considered dangerous to humans.
Photo credit: Sophia Hall/Associated Press
From : Discover Channel
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