A juvenile fin whale that beached itself at Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz on Thursday morning has died.
Footage of the whale on the sand, struggling but still alive, hit social media on the morning of November 12. Sadly, a few hours later, it perished. According to reports, it was “severely emaciated and showed signs of long-term illness.”
The Marine Mammal Center told reporters that the whale was first reported around 9:30 a.m. It was in bad shape, but still in the surf. Officials from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Santa Cruz police officers, and California State Parks lifeguards were planning to remove the whale with a flatbed truck and a backhoe when the whale died. The time of death is estimate to be around 10:15 a.m.
Now, the Cowell Beach parking lot has been closed, as well as the immediate area around the whale.
Fin Whale Dies After Washing Up on Cowell Beach, Santa Cruz
The juvenile fin whale died less than an hour after officials were informed of its presence. Photo: Instagram//Screenshot
