Reasons why whales beach themselves elude scientists
Wildlife experts are searching for answers to explain why a gray whale mysteriously washed ashore in Malibu, California, shortly before its death.
The beached gray whale was discovered Saturday on the shores of Little Dume, a secluded area popular with surfers. The Malibu-based California Wildlife Center, which responded to the report, said in a Sunday post on Facebook that the whale later died.
It’s not unusual for gray whales to wash up on the shores of California’s beaches, and experts have said there’s no reason to believe strandings have increased in previous years. While plenty of theories abound, the exact reasons for the strange behavior largely elude marine biologists.
Full-grown gray whales average about 49 feet long and weigh approximately 90,000 pounds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
At 13,000 pounds and 33 feet, the male whale wedged in the Malibu sand wasn’t quite full-grown.
The California Wildlife Center collected samples from the whale and are working with NOAA to determine what caused it to come ashore. A full necropsy was not conducted because of concerns about opening up and examining the whale on the beach, said Michael Milstein, a spokesman for NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast region.
“Given the limited nature of the exam, they were not able to identify a specific cause of death or reason for the stranding,” Milstein said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The California Wildlife Center left a warning on its Facebook post for beachgoers: “As the tide rises, the animal may shift in the waves so please keep a safe distance.”
The organization did not immediately respond to a message left Monday morning by USA TODAY.
Once common throughout the Northern Hemisphere, gray whales are now largely found only in the North Pacific Ocean, according to NOAA Fisheries.
The species, defined by its mottled gray body, is no longer considered to be endangered but is still protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for whales to beach themselves. Almost all of the approximately 2,000 strandings a year – of any species, including dolphins – result in death, according to the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida.
In August, a pod of nearly 100 pilot whales stranded themselves on an Australian beach, befuddling marine biologists and attracting international attention when wildlife experts made the decision to euthanize them.
Some experts theorize that whales frightened of nearby predators could flee in panic to shallow waters. Other theories include sickness and injury or navigational errors.