The arrival of sharks canceled state and federal officials’ plans Tuesday to tow a newborn humpback whale carcass ashore and find out the cause of its death off the North Shore.

Federal officials Tuesday planned to have the dead whale calf towed from the rocks off Kahuku Point to Hale­iwa Harbor, from where they wanted to transport it to Hawaii Pacific University’s Hawaii Loa Campus for a necropsy.

But David Schofield, federal Marine Mammal Health and Response Program manager, said that in waters northwest of Wai­mea, sharks began feeding on the whale.

Officials aboard a state enforcement patrol boat making the tow let the calf go rather than taking it to Hale­iwa Harbor, where surfers and canoe paddlers are involved in activities.

"We didn’t want to tow the whale into public areas," Schofield said.

Officials said the calf had been dead less than 24 hours when discovered Tuesday.

Schofield said the whale did not seem to be the same one that was reportedly entangled with crab trap lines April 10.

In 2013 so far, there have been five baby humpback whales stranded — a higher number than the usual two each season, Schofield said.

Two of the dead baby whales have been tested, and results found neither had any major viruses that have been responsible in the past for massive die-offs, Schofield said.

Those who see stranded whales and porpoises are asked to call 888-256-9840.