An endangered fin whale was found washed up near a coastal trail in Alaska, attracting many curious observers as wildlife biologists investigated the cause of its death. The juvenile female whale, almost 47 feet long, was found along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage. Fin whales are classified as endangered species and are the second-largest whale species after blue whales. The main threats to their existence include vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglements, underwater noise, and the effects of climate change.
While fin whales are typically found in deep, offshore waters away from the coast, recent high tides may have brought this whale closer to shore. Biologists collected samples from the whale’s carcass to determine the cause of death, which can be challenging due to decomposition or lack of obvious injuries. Despite this, hundreds of people, including families and students, visited the whale to see and touch it. However, only Alaska Natives were allowed to take any part of the carcass for subsistence.
Biologists plan to untie the carcass and let the tide move it once the examination is complete, unsure of what the carcass will do. Among the visitors was a group of children who found the experience of seeing a real whale up close educational and exciting. The investigation into the cause of the fin whale’s death continues as biologists work to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
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