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A massive live fin whale washed ashore on a Santa Cruz beach Thursday morning, prompting emergency response as crews rushed to the scene, wildlife experts say.
Multiple agencies responded, along with marine safety personnel, to the scene at Cowell Beach, according to the city of Santa Cruz.
“The immediate area surrounding the whale has been closed off,” officials wrote.
“We ask the public to respect the designated perimeter, and allow responders the space they need to assess the situation.”
Photos and video showed emergency personnel on scene and parts of the whale visible from the beach. The area had been blocked off by cones and tape.
Giancarlo Rulli with the Marine Mammal Center said the juvenile fin whale’s condition didn’t look good, noting these whales aren’t typically seen so close to the shore, NBC Bay Area reported.
Wildlife officials said unfortunately there was nothing they could do while the whale is still alive.
Once the whale has died, officials will need to figure out the best way to remove it from the shore. Some of those options would include towing it out to sea or allowing the tide to wash it away.
Crowds started forming close to the beach and on a nearby pier with people looking at the whale as it swayed back and forth on the sand.
A fin whale is considered the second-largest animal on earth. The adult whales can get up to 85 feet in length and weigh up to 80 tons. While a juvenile fin is between 30-40 feet in length and can weigh anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 pounds.
The California Post reached out to the animal center for more information.
