Dead blue whale was possibly victim of boat collision: biologists conclude

The dead blue whale that washed ashore at a beach near San Francisco earlier this week was possibly a victim of boat collision/accident, a team of biologists who conducted necropsy on the carcass concluded.

The roughly 65-foot carcass washed ashore at the Westmoor Beach near Daisaku Ikeda Canyon in Daly City last Wednesday. A beachgoer reported it to local wildlife officials at just after noon that day.

A team of marine biologists, including members from the Marine Mammal Center, he California Academy of Sciences and the University of California, examined the carcass and found that the animal suffered multiple skull fractures.

They concluded that the skull fractures were consistent with a collision with a fast-moving boat or ship. A closer examination also revealed “extensive” bruising along the dead marine creature’s spine.

Sue Pemberton, of the California Academy of Sciences, said, “No ship captains reported hitting any whales. It’s all speculation. All we can document is that there’s trauma. The impact was hard enough to basically shatter the back of his skull.”

Local wildlife authorities also confirmed that it was the seventh blue whale carcass that washed ashore along the coast of Central and Northern California in the past four decades.