Young gray whale washes ashore in La Jolla
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A young gray whale washed up on La Jolla Shores Friday.
The marine animal was first spotted around 2:45 p.m. Thursday near The Marine Room, a popular coastal restaurant in the area.
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division notified local officials at SeaWorld and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Later that day, NOAA scientists were at the scene and indicated that human intervention was not advised for safety reasons.
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NOAA reported that the whale, which is about 24 feet long, was in shallow surf as of Thursday at sundown. It appeared to be breathing at that time, but officials said it was in “bad health” and looked emaciated. By 8 p.m., NOAA had confirmed that the young whale was, in fact, dead.
FOX 5/KUSI responded to the area Friday morning, capturing the whale on video (below). The mammal could be seen lifeless in the water. High tide later rolled in, making it more likely that the sea creature may be pushed back out to sea.
Officials with NOAA reassessed the situation Friday morning to determine if removal was a viable option. Due to the high tide and other circumstances, no efforts to intervene were made until around 11 a.m.
Experts have said this is the time of year in which instances like these tend to happen. This is because these whales travel all the way from Alaska down to Mexico to birth their offspring before making the several thousand-mile track back up the California coast.
According to NOAA officials at the scene, however, this whale appears to be a yearling, meaning it’s not a newborn from the whale migration. More assessments can be made once testing is conducted on the mammal.
Back in December, a young fin whale washed ashore in Pacific Beach. San Diego State University Geologist and Professor Emeritus Pat Abbot said the possible causes of death in this previous whale’s case could have been a virus.
His assertion came after NOAA researchers who were called to the scene said human interference wasn’t believed to be a factor.
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