A dead fin whale estimated to measure about 60 feet arrived in Los Angeles Harbor on Tuesday evening on the bow section of a container ship that most likely delivered its fatal wounds.
Only about 45 feet of the carcass, not including the head or tail, was visible above and just below the surface on Wednesday, after the whale had been tied to a dock (see photos). It was reasonably fresh, indicating that the whale had died recently, perhaps within 24 hours of when it was discovered."Based on the shape of the carcass at the posterior end, it appears that there was impact of blunt force, and around that area there was hemorrhaging," Christina Fahy, an NOAA Fisheries biologist who inspected the carcass Wednesday, stated via email. "Which means the whale was alive when it was struck."
According to the Daily Breeze , it's from Coco Solo, Panama.
Fahy added: "The Coast Guard noted that the whale was higher in the water than last night, so it was just starting to bloat. [But] the whale did not smell, nor was its skin sloughing, so I suspect it was a recent occurrence."The carcass was to be towed to the west end of San Clemente Island on Wednesday night.
A handful of whales, often including endangered fin whales and blue whales , are killed by ship strikes off California each year.
Blue whales are the largest creatures to have inhabited the planet, measuring to 100 feet and weighing up to 150 tons. Fin whales are the second largest whale species, and can measure to nearly 80 feet.
Both whales feed on tiny shrimp-like krill, which has been bountiful off Southern California this winter. There have been several fin whale sightings recently off the Los Angeles area, including busy shipping areas, and Orange County.
Boaters who encounter an injured or distressed whale are asked to call NOAA's 24-hour hotline at 877-767-9425, or to hail the Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.
--Pete Thomas
--Photos: Top image shows fin whale belly-up alongside dock, with NOAA scientist Christina Fahy and U.S. Coast Guard Ensign Brandon Earhart in the foreground. David Janiger, curatorial assistant of mammals at the L.A. County Museum of Natural History, is kneeling in the background. NOAA public affairs officer Jim Milbury also is pictured. Second image reveals a closer look at the whale and its rorqual pleats (throat grooves). Credit: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
