Scientist Probe Death Of Rare 52-Foot Fin Whale Which Washed Ashore On San Diego Beach

On December 10, a 52-foot-long (16-meter-long) young female fin whale washed up on San Diego’s Mission Beach dead. Fin whales are easy to spot as they are the second largest whale species, growing up to be around 70 to 80 feet (21 to 24 meters) tall.

Micheal Milstein, spokesperson for NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries West Coast region, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that the whale was “probably in the first couple years of its life. It didn’t appear to have been dead very long because there wasn’t much evidence of scavenging or decomposition. But there was also no obvious sign of the cause of death.”

Fin whales are an endangered species. Despite being found throughout the world’s oceans, only a couple of thousands are left.

According to the NOAA, there are only an estimated 8,000 off the West Coast where the young whale was found.

During their yearly migrations, these whales also tend to travel in deeper waters, often 10,000 to 14,000 miles (16,000 to 22,500 kilometers) up and down the coast.

Milstein said it was uncommon to see a whale along the West Coast.

After finding it, the whale was later towed out into the sea. There were about 100 onlookers as a bulldozer, Jet Ski and boat worked together to move the whale. The ropes broke several times, but they managed to move the whale off the beach.

It was towed about a mile and a half offshore until “it suddenly sunk to the bottom,” according to lifeguard Lt. Jacob Magness.

The cause of death remains unclear.

Milstein noted that if ship strikes had killed it, there would be evidence, such as propeller marks, but observers didn’t notice anything.

Researchers have obtained tissue samples which they will examine to determine the cause of death.