Espresso the whale laid to rest at Preston Beach in Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT — Espresso, the dead whale that washed up on the shores of both Swampscott and Marblehead in the past month, was buried on Preston Beach in what the town hopes will be its final resting place.

The town worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Meninno Construction to dig a 10-foot-deep hole as a grave for the whale.

“We went out there Friday and took a look at it,” Director of Public Works Gino Cresta said. “We devised the plan and implemented it on Saturday.”

The whale had to be brought to the burial location, as it was approximately 300 yards away at the time. Cresta explained that the tide had caused the body to move several times since it resurfaced on May 14.

“One day it was on Preston Beach, the next day it was behind North Stone Road, then went down to Blodgett Avenue,” Cresta said.

The body was dragged into the water so it could become buoyant and easier to transport. Cresta credited Nick Meninno and his company with being able to carry out all the necessary transportation with a single excavator. According to Cresta, the four-hour burial process is expected to cost the town no more than $10,000.

Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald said he hopes to work with Marblehead to hold a memorial service of some kind for Espresso in the future.

“We’re evolving to broader levels of consciousness around our environmental stewardship, but there’s lots more for us to do,” Fitzgerald said. “And I think Espresso’s demise kind of reminds us of that.”

When the whale was first discovered in April, Marine Mammal Rescue conducted an external exam. However, no obvious cause of death was discovered. A thorough necropsy was later performed. The NOAA is still waiting on its results, which could take up to several months.

According to the Marine Mammal Rescue, Espresso was a 41.7-foot-long female. MMR Director of Marine Mammal Conservation Ashley Stokes said that whales are considered adults when they reach 42 feet in length.

The post Espresso the whale laid to rest at Preston Beach in Swampscott appeared first on Itemlive .