Young humpback whale dies Sunday morning in West Seattle

SEATTLE — A young humpback whale died in shallow water near a Seattle ferry terminal after volunteers and biologists worked to save the struggling animal.

John Calambokidis, a research biologist with Cascadia Research who was working with NOAA Fisheries at the scene on a private beach just south of the ferry dock, said that the whale was "very thin, what we call emaciated."

Volunteers poured water over the struggling whale near the Fauntleroy ferry terminal and tried to shield it from the sun with large sheets. By 11 a.m. Sunday, however, it was clear the humpback would not survive.

“(When we arrived), it was live. … We were trying to keep it wet and comfortable," Jessie Huggins, with the Cascadia Research Collective in Olympia, said. "And it unfortunately passed away as the tide went out."

Officials said they weren’t sure how old the whale was, but that it was a juvenile. They intend to perform an examination.

A crew from Washington State Ferries will help secure the deceased whale carcass, which Sunday was close to the ferry terminal.

Biologists spent hours measuring and examining the whale, while trying to figure out where they could conduct a necropsy and what to do with the carcass.

People who came by the area on Sunday told KIRO 7 News it's not very often you see an animal like this up close. Monday morning, Washington state ferry officials said the whale had been towed from the beach by crews for securing in deeper waters.

A limited necropsy was conducted on the beach. It revealed poor nutritional condition, internal parasites, internal injuries associated with the beaching event and also killer whale bite marks on the humpback's jaw.

Killer whales were reported in the area the previous day, officials with the Cascadia Research Collective said Monday. Further analyses will work to determine whether other conditions contributed to the female humpback's stranding.

Tomorrow, the whale will be sunk with the combined help of officials with the Cascadia Research Collective, Washington State Ferries and Global Salvage.

Cox Media Group