Introduction to the Incident
A dead 50-foot gray whale washed ashore in Huntington Beach on Friday, according to officials with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.
Details of the Whale
The cause of death of the young adult female is not yet known, said Glenn Gray, chief executive of the Laguna Beach-based nonprofit. Employees of the center performed a necropsy of the body on Saturday morning.
The whale had no signs of physical injury, Gray said. Such marks are typically seen if a whale is struck by a boat, bitten by a shark or entangled in fishing gear.
Investigation and Testing
Samples from the body have been sent to a lab for testing.
“It may take a couple weeks,” he said. “We’ll share with the public what we know.”
Larger Context of Gray Whale Deaths
Scientists say gray whales have been dying in large numbers this year.
At least 70 whales have died since the beginning of the year in the lagoons of Baja California in Mexico, where they go in the winter, according to Steven Swartz, a marine scientist who studies gray whales.
The whales are now headed north to their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.
In recent weeks, three gray whales have died in San Francisco Bay.
Possible Causes of Death
Researchers aren’t sure why higher numbers of whales are dying. The bodies of some of the dead whales have appeared depleted and malnourished, leading some scientists to believe the problem could be a lack of food.
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, who has led the Los Angeles chapter of the American Cetacean Society’s gray whale census at Rancho Palos Verdes since 1979, said the number of whales she and her volunteers have observed migrating north this spring and swimming south this past winter is the lowest on record.
Other Recent Incidents
Earlier this month, a minke whale that spent days swimming in Long Beach Harbor died — despite efforts by marine wildlife experts to reroute it back to deeper waters.
Investigators with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were trying to determine what caused the minke whale’s death.
Conclusion
The death of the gray whale in Huntington Beach is part of a larger trend of gray whale deaths this year. While the cause of death is still unknown, researchers are working to determine the reason behind the high number of deaths. The public can expect to hear more information in the coming weeks as test results become available.
FAQs
Q: How many gray whales have died this year?
At least 70 gray whales have died since the beginning of the year in the lagoons of Baja California in Mexico.
Q: What is the possible cause of the gray whale deaths?
The possible cause of the gray whale deaths is unknown, but some scientists believe it could be due to a lack of food.
Q: How many gray whales have been observed migrating this year?
The number of gray whales observed migrating north this spring and swimming south this past winter is the lowest on record.
Q: What is being done to investigate the cause of the whale deaths?
Samples from the dead whales have been sent to a lab for testing, and investigators with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working to determine the cause of death.
