***These new photos of the whale come courtesy of Angela Fournier, of Bristol.

LITTLE COMPTON, R.I. (AP) - Officials at the from the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration say a 30-foot humpback whale that washed ashore was too far decomposed to determine what happened.

The whale was found Sunday on Briggs Beach in Little Compton.

Janelle Schuh, the aquarium's stranding coordinator, says the whale is in about two to five feet of water off the beach and can't be buried until the surf brings it to solid ground.

If that doesn't happen, Schuh says officials will leave the animal in the water.

Beach manager Ron Bogle says he plans to open the beach on Saturday but is waiting to see if it poses a health hazard to swimmers. He says a southeasterly wind is keeping the smell at bay.
      
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