In what looks to be another in the long line of recent troubles for sea life, a dead whale approximately 25 feet long is reported to have washed ashore at California's Silver Strand State Beach on Tuesday. The carcass, believed to be that of a humpback, was swept up by high tides out of the ocean and onto a Coronado beach during massive waves and coastal flooding that led to the shutdown of Paseo at Hotel del Coronado.
The waves that carried the whale ashore and led to the hotel's shutdown reached as high as 18 feet, hitting San Diego beaches throughout the night and into the morning. Prior to washing up on the beach, the lifeless cetacean was seen floating in the ocean near Coronado.
"We are currently working with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and National Marine Fisheries for verification and cause of death," said Richard Dennison, San Diego Coast District Sector Superintendent. "Biologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's Southwest Fisheries Science Center may conduct a forensic investigation of the decomposing carcass, in an effort to determine possible cause of death for the animal."
NOAA set up at the scene of the carcass shortly after its discovery in order to test and dissect the large mammal. The team hopes to determine the cause of death of the whale - believed to be one year old at the time of its death - as well as pinpoint any other factors out of the ordinary.
"We're looking to see if there's any kind of injuries that it could have," said Kerri Danil, an NOAA biologist. "We will also take a look at the organs, see perhaps what it had been feeding on, test for bio-toxins."
The carcass is located between the park's entrance and one of its parking lots, which have been blocked off in case of any biohazard dangers.
"After examination and dissection, then they'll remove it from the beach, it will likely go to the landfill," Danil said.
The state's parks department will provide the funding for the effort to remove the massive carcass from the beach, which will likely cost several thousand dollars.
