The department said it is working closely with marine mammal experts on
two necropsies to determine the cause of death of right whales found
earlier this month in the gulf.

In one case, experts reported that there was no evidence of recent
fishing gear entanglement or a recent vessel strike, but further testing
was ongoing to identify other potential causes of death.

Meanwhile, a massive right whale found dead last week has been brought
to shore on western Cape Breton for a necropsy involving a team of about
30 people.

The whale – a 40-year-old female named Punctuation – was towed late
Monday to Petit Etang, N.S., where pathologists from P.E.I.’s Atlantic
Veterinary College were examining the 32-tonne carcass on a local beach.

Isabelle Elliott of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans said
the team’s goal is to make a preliminary determination of the cause of
death, followed by a detailed necropsy providing final results in the
weeks and months to come.