A young, 15-foot-long female gray whale was found dead near shore on Terminal Island this week.
The whale appears to have died from a wound inflicted by a large boat or small ship, said Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Project Coordinator Diane Alps.
The whale likely died more than a week ago, and was stuck on the rocks for several days before someone notified local marine animal experts.
"It looks like the fatal blow was probably the one facing away from us in the photo, on the tail stock area," Alps said. "The other injuries seem to be post-mortem."
Skin samples were collected Thursday by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, with extra tissue to be supplied to National Marine Fisheries Service for testing, Alps said.
The whale was expected to be towed out to sea today. This photo was taken by Diane Alps:
The whale appears to have died from a wound inflicted by a large boat or small ship, said Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Project Coordinator Diane Alps.
The whale likely died more than a week ago, and was stuck on the rocks for several days before someone notified local marine animal experts.
"It looks like the fatal blow was probably the one facing away from us in the photo, on the tail stock area," Alps said. "The other injuries seem to be post-mortem."
Skin samples were collected Thursday by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, with extra tissue to be supplied to National Marine Fisheries Service for testing, Alps said.
The whale was expected to be towed out to sea today. This photo was taken by Diane Alps:
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