For about a week now, a humpback whale has been spotted in the Hudson River off New York City. About a year ago a similar sighting of a lone humpback whale in the Hudson River was made, which indicates this may be a new annual occurrence. Efforts have been made in recent decades to clean up the waters of the Hudson River as well as limiting menhaden fishing, a known humpback whale food source.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has reported humpback whale sightings in the area, including observers witnessing lunge feeding behavior, a fantastic indicator for a cleaner river than years past. However, the river sees a significant amount of boat traffic which is a concern for large marine mammals. The Coast Guard has urged boaters to slow down and steer clear of the whale, who has been nicknamed Gotham.

Read the full article here.