Rare Humpback Whale Spotted in Boston Harbor on Memorial Day

The citizens of Boston had an unexpected visitor on Memorial Day. People spotted a juvenile and possibly injured humpback whale within Boston Harbor, exciting many who don't normally get a chance to view this rare and endangered species.

Humpback whales are known for the haunting melodies they "sing" beneath the waves and which can travel for miles. Found near coastlines feeding on tiny shrimp-like krill, plankton and small fish, these behemoths can reach up to 63 feet in length. The largest animals in the world, the whales are known for migrating long distances across the world's oceans. Classified as endangered, it's illegal to approach this species on your own.

The juvenile now has an exclusion zone around it, keeping it safe from both boaters and fishing vessels as it cruises through the harbor. About 20 to 30 feet in length, the whale is a typical size for a juvenile. That said, the humpback does seem to be injured. Not only does it appear to be thin, it also seems to have an injured tail, according to The Boston Globe.

While the sight is unusual, though, it isn't completely unprecedented. In April 2005, another humpback whale appeared in the inner harbor. The healthy juvenile spent three days feeding and swimming before finally leaving the area.

"It's always a very unusual event" to have a whale come into the harbor, "but it's not uncommon," said New England Aquarium spokesman Tony LaCasse in an interview with The Boston Globe.

Yet the newest juvenile may have some trouble if its tail doesn't heal. Humpbacks rely heavily on their massive tail fin, called a fluke, in order to propel themselves through the water and sometimes completely out of it in spectacular leaps that send gallons of water splashing into the air. The whale has already left the harbor for the open ocean, hopefully to continue swimming.