Dead juvenile humpback whale draws crowds in Pacific Grove
By Michael Rosales
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PACIFIC GROVE, California (KSBW) — A dead juvenile humpback whale washed ashore near Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, prompting research efforts and drawing attention from residents and tourists.
The whale was first spotted floating in the water on Wednesday, leading the Pacific Grove Police Department to close Lover’s Point Beach, located about a mile away from the marine station.
Whale experts from UC Santa Cruz’s Long Marine Lab are conducting tests on the whale to gather samples that could provide insights into marine mammal health in the area.
“Our team was able to successfully get a fecal sample, and that’s one of the samples that we need to determine whether there was domoic acid in its body,” a spokesperson from UCSC Long Marine Lab said.
Currently, the cause of death for the juvenile whale remains unknown, but the samples collected may offer clues. Once testing is complete, the whale will be towed back into the ocean to allow nature to take its course.
“We don’t always tow whales. We really take into consideration the beach that the animal has landed on, whether it’s kind of highly accessed by the public, whether there’s any safety concerns,” the spokesperson said.
The whale, estimated to be two years old, has drawn significant attention from residents and tourists, many of whom have stopped by to take photos.
“There was a couple of years ago, a beached whale at Asilomar. But there’s a lot more decompose. This one’s, like, fresh. It’s brand new,” said Chris Fenstermaker, another observer.
Some visitors expressed surprise at the whale’s size, mistaking it for an adult due to its large appearance.
“It doesn’t look that big when you’re just looking at it. And then when you see these people, they’re not even the size of a fin,” said Heather Cool.
According to Colleen Talty, director of operations at Happywhale, the whale had been tagged and was seen twice in March.
It may take 24 to 48 hours before the whale is towed back into the ocean, leaving the reopening of Lover’s Point Beach uncertain for now.
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