This basking shark (not dangerous--they mainly eat plankton) washed ashore yesterday just a few miles east of Jones Beach in Long Island. The Washington Post estimates that the critter is 2,000 pounds and 20 feet long while CNN reports it may be 5,000 pounds and over 26 feet. Regardless, what an amazing creature!
It appears to have died from some kind of illness and researchers are examining the carcass before it's buried in sand dunes nearby on the beach. Usually basking sharks die in the ocean.
