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Fin Whale That Died at Cowell Beach Was Emaciated, Likely Ill for Weeks
A 55-foot female fin whale that stranded alive at Cowell Beach and later died was severely emaciated, suggesting she had been ill for weeks or months, according to a necropsy by the Long Marine Lab Stranding Network. Researchers collected extensive samples and expect to determine a definitive cause of death within a month.
SANTA CRUZ â A 55-foot female fin whale that stranded alive at Cowell Beach on Thursday morning and died shortly after was severely undernourished and had likely been sick for weeks or months, according to findings from a necropsy conducted Saturday.
The Long Marine Lab Stranding Network, which led the examination, said the whale weighed more than 58,000 pounds but was âvery emaciated, potentially indicating she had been ill for weeks or months.â The necropsy was performed at the Dimeo Lane Resource Recovery Facility with partners from the California Academy of Sciences and the Marine Mammal Center.
Researchers collected extensive tissue and fluid samples during the procedure. Those samples will be analyzed over the coming weeks to pin down a definitive cause of death, with additional findings expected to be released within the next month, officials said.
The stranding drew crowds to Cowell Beach on Thursday as the massive animal came ashore alive. Despite efforts to respond, the whale died on the beach. Its death marks the latest in a series of whale strandings along the California coast in recent years, events that marine biologists track closely for clues about ocean health, prey availability and human impacts such as ship strikes and entanglement.
Fin whales are the second-largest whale species on Earth and are listed as endangered. A full-grown adult can reach lengths of roughly 70 to 80 feet, making the 55-foot female relatively small for her species â a detail consistent with the emaciation observed during the necropsy.
The Long Marine Lab Stranding Network, based at UC Santa Cruz, is part of a regional network that responds to stranded marine mammals. Officials said the public should continue to report stranded or distressed marine animals to local authorities rather than approaching them directly.