On Sunday, the crew successfully removed a massive whale that had washed ashore at Torrance Beach the previous night. However, the process was far from simple.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department observed that the fin whale seemed to be in a state of distress and illness when it was sighted within the surf line at around 6 p.m.
The Marine Mammal Care Center and the National Marine Fisheries Service officials swiftly responded to the scene, but unfortunately, the whale was declared deceased just an hour later.
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The whale’s cause of death remains unknown, but it was noted that the animal had unusual bumps on its skin that were not typical for its species.
Crews were tirelessly working to tow the colossal mammal, which happens to be the second largest whale in the world, away from the water. Their objective was to enable marine experts to gather samples and specimens, even after more than 12 hours of its initial appearance on the shore.
“We are currently focusing on stabilizing the whale to enable the National Marine Fisheries Service to conduct a necropsy,” explained Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Murphy to KTLA 5’s reporter, Annie Rose Ramos, on Sunday morning. He further stated, “This will help us determine the cause of death and why the whale washed up on the beach. If the necropsy can be carried out, it will allow us to move the whale offshore. Ideally, once it is offshore, it will sink and contribute to the ecosystem at the bottom of the ocean.”
Chief Murphy said that two tractors were observed pulling the carcass away from the shoreline. They took precautionary measures by using an old fire hose to wrap the chains around the tail, ensuring that it wouldn’t be cut into.
A large crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the situation firsthand. However, they were unable to get too close due to the officials cordoning off the section of the beach where the whale washed up. This measure was taken to ensure that the public did not disrupt the work being carried out by the workers and biologists.
