Massive fin whale dies after beaching in Santa Cruz
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A massive — but sick and emaciated — fin whale died Thursday after it became beached in Santa Cruz, according to city officials.
Scientists who responded to the death said the female fin whale, likely a juvenile, was “severely emaciated and exhibited signs of long-term illness,” according to a news release from the city.
After lengthy efforts on Thursday to relocate the massive animal from Cowell Beach, scientists on Friday conducted a necropsy, or postmortem examination, confirming the whale was “severely underweight and emaciated, consistent with a prolonged period of poor nutritional condition,” according to an update from the UC Santa Cruz Long Marine Lab.
The whale was 55 feet long and weighed more than 58,000 pounds, the scientists reported. The team took additional tests and samples that they will review and analyze over the next few months to determine the underlying cause of death in order to “provide a more complete understanding of the whale’s condition,” the update said.
Fin whales, which are the second largest species of whale behind blue whales, are endangered after decades of commercial whaling decimated their population, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Ship strikes continue to threaten the species.
Weather conditions have stymied efforts to help the animal, which was last seen Thursday.
“Whales are such a magnificent part of what makes Monterey Bay special, and it’s heartbreaking to see one of these incredible animals on our shores in this condition,” Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said in a statement. “I’m grateful to the marine mammal experts and first responders working to manage this difficult situation with care and respect.”
The fin whale was first reported stranded in the surf at Cowell Beach around 8 a.m. on Thursday, and marine mammal experts pronounced it dead about two hours later.
The team analyzing the whale includes members of the UC Santa Cruz Long Marine Laboratory, the California Academy of Sciences and the Marine Mammal Center.
The incident was the latest sad news for beachlife in Santa Cruz County.
Earlier this week, the county announced that an E. coli outbreak forced Capitola Beach to close and over the weekend, a woman was swept out to sea.
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