A deceased minke whale washed ashore at Bold Point Park on Sunday morning, drawing attention from nearby residents and visitors to the park.

According to Kim Keough, Chief Public Affairs Officer for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), the whale was the same one that was observed earlier this year in January (also deceased back then) while work was being conducted on removing debris from a barge that sank in the Providence River seven years prior.

DEM conferred with professionals from Mystic Aquarium on what to do with the carcass.

“Given the slow but continuous decomposition over the past several colder months, officials have determined that the most appropriate course of action is to allow the whale to decompose naturally in place,” reads a statement from DEM. “Removal or burial is not feasible due to the whale’s advanced decomposition and its current location.”

It is unknown exactly how long the whale has been deceased, or how it met its demise.

“A necropsy would yield limited information about the cause of death, as significant time has passed since the initial stranding,” the statement continued.

On Monday afternoon Narragansett Tribe member, Sonia "Ascawawa" Thomas-Silva, could be seen splashing the massive animal with water.

Asked about the significance of the ceremony, Thomas-Silva (a former East Providence resident) said she represented the Shinnecock Tribe of Long Island, who were whalers that used every part of their catch. The cedar water was used to transition the whale from the physical world to the spiritual world.

"It's very emotional for me," she said. "I am proud of the fact that this honor was bestowed upon me."

Minke whales are one the smallest of the baleen whales, with males usually growing to around 27 feet in length and females growing to 29 feet. The average weight fluctuates between 8 to 13 tons depending on the gender. They feed on plankton and other small fish.

Outside of the ceremonial interaction described above, curious onlookers were suggested by DEM to adhere to guidance put forth in the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which states it is always best to “remain 100 yards from all marine mammals both dead and alive.”