A massive whale washed ashore in San Diego over the weekend. There were signs that the fin whale was attacked by a shark, which may have contributed to its demise.
52-Foot Whale Washed Ashore With Rake Marks From Sharks
A huge sea creature shocked beachgoers in Pacific Beach. Hundreds of individuals were shocked to find a 52-foot fin whale on the shore. It was still alive, and they worked together to help it get back into the water.
For hours, a heavy construction truck tried to roll it back into the water. Lifeguards then tied ropes surrounding it to pull it upshore.
On Sunday morning, NOAA received a call about the beached whale and contacted the lifeguards to check it. However, it was already dead when they arrived. A report said it was a female fin whale, but they still didn't know how it died or why it was washed ashore.
The experts did an external examination to look for signs of human interaction. The cause of death was reportedly unlikely due to humans. There were signs of shark attack, but the expert did not immediately conclude that it was the cause of death.
"We did see signs or evidence of, perhaps, scavenging from sharks. There were some rake marks on it, but nothing that would have killed this animal," the expert said.
It was reportedly a juvenile whale and could grow up to 80 feet long. They are the second largest whale in the world, next to the blue whale.
The experts have taken samples to learn the cause of death. Fin whales are listed as endangered species. Their population suffered a blow from commercial whalers who hunted them until the last century for oil, meat, baleen, and fin.
Fin whales are threatened by environmental change, including habitat loss, toxicity, and climate change, just as other large whales. They are also still threatened by commercial whaling. Iceland restarted commercial fin whaling in 2013 with a quota of 184 whales following a two-year break. The whale meat is primarily sold in Japanese markets.
Shark Attack on Whales
There are numerous cases when whales wash ashore due to shark attacks. For instance, in October, another whale was found dead on an Australian beach. The official suspected of foul play because its stomach was ripped open.
Weeks after the incident, scientists announced that the massive predator was killed by a killer whale, or more likely, by a pod of orcas. Dr. Adam Miller of Deakin University stated that DNA traces from killer whales were discovered when the bite wounds were swabbed.
The shark in question was more than 16 feet long. The great white shark is a massive animal, measuring a maximum of 20 feet in length and 4,400 pounds. Though they may reach heights of up to 26 feet and weigh exceeding 13,000 pounds, orcas are even bigger than great white sharks.
Apex predators include both great white sharks and killer whales. But the former is pursuing the latter with great aggression. Experts believe the sharks are after the whales' oil-rich liver.
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