Southern California Conservation Organizations Join Forces to Determine the Cause of Death of Endangered Fin Whale

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ocean Animal Response & Research Alliance in Los Angeles (OARRA), Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Orange County (PMMC), and Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles (MMCCLA), worked together to perform a necropsy (animal autopsy) on a 51-foot juvenile male fin whale that stranded on the Beach in Torrance, CA on Saturday, August 10^th.

The juvenile whale was alive when it washed ashore at approximately 5:30 pm on Saturday. Los Angeles County Lifeguards were onsite to ensure public safety and MMCCLA staff to share what was happening with the hundreds of people gathered on the beach when the whale passed at around 8 pm.

On Sunday morning, teams from OARRA, PMMC, and MMCCLA arrived to perform a necropsy. Keith Matassa, CEO of OARRA, and Dr. Alissa Deming, Vice President of Conservation Medicine and Science and Veterinarian at PMMC were assisted by Dr. Lauren Palmer, Dr. Tammy Da Costa Gomez, and Dr. Mattison Peters of MMCCLA, began the careful examination and sample collection from the whale to help reveal the cause of death.

The necropsy findings will help us better understand threats to this endangered species, and by sharing what we learn with other researchers and policymakers, we can champion this species’ continued recovery. Researchers at OARRA and PMMC will test and analyze samples taken during the necropsy. A full report will be released once all data has been processed and reviewed.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Permit #24359), through the Marine Mammal Protection Act, coordinates a network of organizations, including MMCCLA, PMMC, and OARRA, to respond to stranded live and dead marine mammals in California.

“Fin whales are an endangered species and, as such, don’t strand often, especially not so soon after passing. What we learn from the unfortunate passing of this whale will be invaluable. It will help us to tell this whale’s story in service to other whales living today,” said Keith Matassa, CEO, OARRA.

“PMMC was honored to support this collaborative effort with the goal of learning as much as possible from this animal. Our team, alongside our LA partners at OARRA and MMCCLA, collected invaluable samples and data that wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support from LA County Lifeguards and Beaches and Harbors,” said Dr. Alissa Deming, Vice President of Conservation Medicine and Science and Veterinarian at PMMC.

“Whales are magnificent creatures, and the circumstances of this stranding are very sad,” said John Warner, CEO of Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles. “As sad as the death of a whale is, it offers a rare opportunity for researchers to gather valuable data that can help us protect these animals as their populations recover. We are grateful to everyone involved, including LA County Lifeguards, Bay Watch, Coast Guard, LA County Beaches and Harbors, Cabrillo Aquarium, and members of the public that gathered to pay their respects to this magnificent animal.”

Editor's Note: images of the fin whale can be found here.

For more information about Ocean Animal Response & Research Alliance, visit www.oarra.org

For more information about Pacific Marine Mammal Center, visit www.pacificmmc.org

For more information about Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles, visit www.marinemammalcare.org