A young gray whale has been found dead after traveling 20 miles up the Willapa River in Washington. The Marine Mammal Research Group suspects starvation may have prompted the whale to seek new feeding grounds, as the gray whale population faces challenges due to dwindling food supplies. The species, currently migrating 5,000 miles from Baja California to Alaska, has experienced a significant decline in food availability in its Arctic feeding areas since 2019.
NOAA Fisheries reported an unusual mortality event among gray whales in the eastern Pacific, culminating in malnutrition and increased deaths. Previously estimated at around 13,000, the population is now at its lowest since the 1970s. Residents were initially fascinated by the whale’s presence, but after it moved upstream and became inaccessible, researchers were unable to reach it before its death.
Biologist John Kalambokidis noted that the whale appeared thin yet normal, emphasizing that the migration is particularly challenging, leading whales to explore new feeding areas. Researchers hope to study the deceased whale for further insights.
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