Dead Gray Whale Washes Ashore in Los Angeles County
Whale Found at Dockweiler State Beach
A dead gray whale washed ashore at Dockweiler State Beach in Los Angeles County on February 2, according to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC).
Autopsy and Sample Collection
The whale, a 37-to-40-foot-long adult female, was found early morning Sunday and PMMC staff and volunteers responded to perform an animal autopsy, otherwise known as a necropsy.
Officials from L.A. County’s Department of Beaches and Harbors, and California State Parks, ensured public safety by closing a portion of the beach, while the center’s necropsy team carefully collected samples from the scene to analyze.
Initial Findings
“The whale appeared to be thin and had a moderate burden of whale lice, which is suggestive of the animal being ill prior to death,” PMMC said in a release.
Unusual Mortality Event
PMMC noted that the gray whale species experienced an “unusual mortality event” from 2019 to 2023. Researchers thought it was the result of decreased prey availability in their foraging grounds, causing a “significant population decline and reproductive failures.”
Monitoring and Analysis
“It is critically important to monitor this population to understand if they are recovering from this recent mortality event,” said PMMC’s release. “Samples and necropsy of this gray whale will help scientists understand what caused her death and will aid in post-unusual mortality event monitoring.”
The center said that additional diagnostics and analysis of samples will be performed to confirm a cause of death, and a full report will be released once all data has been processed.
Photos
Conclusion
The death of this gray whale serves as a reminder of the importance of monitoring and understanding the health of marine mammal populations. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is committed to providing critical insights into the causes of death and will continue to work with scientists and researchers to better understand the impact of environmental factors on these incredible creatures.
FAQs
* What caused the death of the gray whale?
+ The cause of death is still under investigation and will be confirmed once additional diagnostics and analysis of samples are completed.
* Why is the gray whale population declining?
+ Researchers believe that decreased prey availability in their foraging grounds is the primary cause of the population decline and reproductive failures.
* What is being done to monitor the gray whale population?
+ The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is working with scientists and researchers to monitor the population and understand if they are recovering from the recent mortality event.
