It’s great fun to have the rare marine sightings of Mary Lee, the great White Shark who has been swimming as close as the coast of Sea Bright, and the three juvenile beluga whales who have been playing in the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers.
Mary Lee, a 3,500-pound shark has been touring the entire Jersey Shore and was just recently tracked off Cape May County but since she can easily swim an average of about 30 miles a day according to OCEARCH, who tagged her in 2012, she could be at the Cape by now!
The juvenile belugas, who harken from Artic waters, are a bit of a mystery. Marine biologists aren’t happy about the whales touring the Two River area because the rivers pose a danger. The headwaters run south causing the water to eventually becomes unnavigable. The animals become confused and disoriented and often can’t escape to open water.
No one is quite sure where these whales are but boaters should stay at least 150 feet away from these animals and report any whale sightings to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center at mmsc@verizon.net or by calling 609-266-0538. It’s so tempting to get a closer look or photo, but these animals may already be in trouble and the last thing they need is to be hurt by a boat or frightened to swim further down the rivers. As far as Mary Lee goes, since the animal is 16 feet long, boaters should probably keep their distance from her too!
Speaking of animals, one of the most long awaited horse races is being run Saturday. Wouldn’t it be some- thing if American Pharoah breaks the 37-year dry spell and brings home a Triple Crown Win at the third and final leg, the Belmont Stakes? Affirmed was the last to do it in 1978 and that’s because a spoiler is almost always brought in to the last leg – a horse that has not travelled great distances or run three races in such a short time. My personal position is that the practice is unacceptable and the field should be kept to the horses who began at Churchill Downs. The great, great, great grandson of Secretariat, Pharoah even looks like his grand pappy, although he’s a bit shorter. It would mean so much to the thoroughbreds who have few roles left in modern society other than hunting and equestrian competitions. I’m praying for a Triple Crown winner as well, but my main wish is that no horse or jockey is injured. I hope every rider has the good sense jockey Kent Desormeaux used in 2008 when he pulled up Triple Crown contender Big Brown in the Belmont. Protecting these beautiful wonders is what it’s all about! There have been far too many tragedies. So, here’s hoping the track conditions are good, everyone is safe and here’s also hoping Big Red is looking down on his grandson Saturday.
Let’s have coffee! Jody Calendar Editor and Co-Publisher
