A 52-foot fin whale washed up on Pacific Beach in San Diego on Sunday, leaving local authorities and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to address the situation. The massive mammal was discovered near Santa Rita Place, bleeding from its side. Michael Milstein, a public affairs officer from NOAA, suggested that the injuries were likely caused by birds pecking at the deceased creature, rather than a major injury.

A beached whale in Pacific Beach San Diego 🥺 pic.twitter.com/j6V8V9eirK

— Steven Gruber (@stvngrbr) December 10, 2023

Despite lifeguards' attempts to tow the whale back out to sea, they faced challenges securing its tail to a small boat. Numerous spectators, including personnel from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and the San Diego Police Department, gathered around the whale, some even approaching and touching it. Lifeguards repeatedly urged bystanders to maintain distance and give researchers space with the whale. Researchers from NOAA arrived at the scene to conduct an initial examination, establish a perimeter, and gather data to determine the cause of death.

The juvenile female whale displayed no visible propeller marks or gashes that would indicate a vessel collision. While the exact cause of death remains unknown, it is essential for people and pets to stay away from the whale to allow researchers to conduct a thorough investigation. Milstein suggested that the whale may have had an underlying illness. NOAA researchers plan to tow the fin whale offshore and let it sink, as it is the second-largest whale species on Earth. The whale's removal from the beach aims to be carried out as quickly as possible. In San Diego, a 52-foot fin whale was found washed up on the shores of Pacific Beach.

The dead whale, a young female, attracted a crowd of hundreds who gathered to witness the massive marine mammal. NOAA officials were alerted to the beached whale and arrived to discover that it was already dead. Surfer Nick Hennis expressed his astonishment, stating that they initially mistook the whale for a tarp. Fin whales, which can reach up to 80 feet in length, are the second-largest whale species globally after the blue whale. The exact cause of death remains unclear, although NOAA research biologist Kerri Danil stated that it did not appear to be caused by humans.

There were signs of scavenging from sharks on the whale, but nothing capable of killing the animal. Efforts to move the whale to the water's edge were made using heavy construction trucks. Once successful, lifeguards tied ropes around the whale's tail to tow it offshore. The fin whale is considered an endangered species, with only an estimated 50,000 to 90,000 left in the world due to centuries of hunting.

While commercial whaling has significantly decreased, fin whales still face threats such as climate change, lack of prey, and vessel strikes. Though researchers on-scene did not believe the cause of the beached whale's death was a vessel strike, San Diego State University Geologist Professor Emeritus Pat Abbot mentioned that ship strikes are the most common cause of death for fin whales. Another potential cause could be a virus. The investigation into the fin whale's death continues.