30-foot sea creature known for ‘curiosity towards boats’ washes ashore in California
.jpg "Gray whales are especially vulnerable to vessel strikes in the Spring due to their annual migration to Alaska.")
A 30-foot female gray whale washed ashore in Richmond, California on June 4, marine mammal experts said.
The animal was partially decomposed when it landed on the beach, and was soon towed away for an autopsy, scientists at The Marine Mammal Center told KRON. The autopsy for animals, called a necropsy, will determine the whale’s cause of death.
According to The Marine Mammal Center records, this is the second gray whale stranding of the year, the first one occurring in April due to a vessel strike.
Vessel strikes are a huge issue for this species, especially between March and May when they are migrating to Alaska, according to KTVU.
Gray whales are especially vulnerable to collisions, as the species is known for its curiosity towards boats, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
Members of the species can grow up to 49 feet long and weigh up to 90,000 pounds. These massive creatures make one of the longest migrations of the mammalian kingdom every year, traveling 10,000 miles round-trip, and some as much as 14,000 miles, NOAA said.
This story was originally published June 6, 2024 at 12:14 PM with the headline "30-foot sea creature known for ‘curiosity towards boats’ washes ashore in California."