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Scientists confirmed that a humpback whale was found dead on a Pacifica Beach.
After rigorous investigations, researchers found evidences on the whale’s body which imply that the sea animal was hit by a ship.
Authorities, through the Interim Police Chief Daniel Steidle say that the young humpback whale was found on Sunday morning. The carcass was located on the Eslande Drive, also known as Pacific Manor Beach, around 6:30 am.
Even though the animal’s carcass has already started to decompose, researchers from the California Academy of Science and Marin Headlands Marine Mammal Center managed to do a necropsy.
Although they only managed to do a partial necropsy, they came across an internal hemorrhaging on the left side of the whale, under its pectoral flipper.
The Center officials state that such a wound could have happened after a blunt force trauma. They continue by stating that it might have been inflicted by a ship strike.
The 38-foot humpback whale is not the first to wash off shores in the last couple of months. On April 14 a 48-foot male sperm whale was located in Pacifica. After that, on the 5th of May, a 42-foot female humpback whale was found on shores.
A necropsy was conducted on the two whales, but the results were inconclusive.
Because of these events, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration took actions in June. In order not to harm endangered species such as fin whales, but also blue and humpback whales, they advised the ships to sail carefully.
The ships near the Bay Area were instructed to slow down when passing through shipping lanes.
Maria Brown, superintendent at Greater Farallones Nation Marine Sanctuary, said that impacts between whales and ships can be prevented, by collaborating with conservationist groups, alongside the maritime shipping industry.
She states that a whale can survive a maritime accident if the ship travels at a lower speed.
Image source: minamipictures.com
