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General Information About the Third Whale

• ID Tag: SBMNH 2007-20
• Stranding Location: Near Platform Gail and floated to south of Platform Grace
• Size: About 60-65 feet long
• Gender: Male (subadult)
• Cause of Death: Ship Strike
• Necropsy: Completed September 22, 2007

In September, There Have Been Three Blue Whale Strandings off the Southern California Coast

• September 8, 2007: Long Beach Harbor
• September 14, 2007: Ventura County, Hobson County Beach
• September 21, 2007: Ventura County, Beach TBD

The Museum began collecting stranding data in 1975, and the first Blue Whale stranding recorded was in 1980. Since then there have been seven Blue Whale strandings in the Tri-County area, so having three Blue Whales strand so close together is unusual.   

Tracking the third Blue Whale

About the Necropsy of the Third Blue Whale

The necropsy of the third dead Blue Whale was completed Saturday, September 22 at about 5:00 PM.  Some of the whale’s soft tissue remains were buried at Pt. Mugu Family Beach, but most of the carcass was towed by boat into the ocean's currents and released into the sea. Given the extent of the excavation of the whale, it is anticipated the carcass will fill with water and sink.

Preliminary results of the necropsy indicated that the whale died of a ship strike.  The cranium was essentially smashed and there was extensive damage to the skeleton, such that during the excavation process broken ribs were falling out.  The bones showed discoloration and uneven breaks indicating that the whale was alive at the point of impact with a large ship. Also, there were large dark stains in the muscle and tissue indicating that the whale bled internally and death was instant.  There was no evidence of sonar damage found.

Standard measurements and collection of tissue and samples were completed.  The data and samples will be processed for further analysis to help determine why the whale made impact with a large ship.  A highlight of the necropsy was that the team collected fresh bone marrow giving the Museum potentially the first stem cells of a Blue Whale. 

Unusual Strandings

In September 2007, there have been three dead Blue Whale Strandings off the Southern California Coast due to ship strikes.  It was reported the week of September 9 that there about 100 Blue Whales in the Santa Barbara Channel and that their primary food source (krill) was prevalent in the shipping lanes.

• September 8, 2007: Subadult male in Long Beach Harbor
• September 14, 2007: Subadult female in Ventura County, Hobson County Beach
• September 21, 2007: Subadult male in Ventura County, Platform Gail/Platform Grace

The Museum began collecting stranding data in 1975, and the first Blue Whale stranding recorded was in 1980. Since then, there have been seven Blue Whale strandings in the Tri-County area (Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo); so having three Blue Whales strand so close together is unusual and raises the question “Why?” Until final results of the necropsy are received, the working theory is that domoic acid may be a contributing factor to the whales’ deaths.

Domoic acid is a toxin associated with certain algal blooms.  In April 2007 NOAA Fisheries (the federal agency responsible for the conservation and management of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions) designated an official “Unusual Mortality Event (UME).”  The designation means that scientists have determined that the occurrences/deaths (beginning in April 2007) are significantly more numerous than is customary in the region and therefore a more comprehensive investigation is warranted. The April 2007 UME issued is still open.

NOAA is asking the public to notify the Marine Mammal Stranding Network of any floating whales seen in Southern California waters.  Please contact the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History at 805-682-4711 ext. 157.

Next Steps

As a member of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will coordinate the analysis of the samples and data.  The Marine Mammal Stranding Network will be looking into the working theory about the role domoic acid may have had in these three Blue Whale deaths and strandings. To test for domoic acid, stomach contents, fecal and urine matter, and blood samples will be analyzed.  The earliest results can be received is about four weeks from now.

Necropsy Team

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

• Paul Collins, Curator of Vertebrate Zoology
• Krista Fahy, Associate Curator of Vertebrate Zoology
• Michelle Berman, Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Zoology & Marine Mammal Stranding Network Coordinator
• Sam Fluitt, Volunteer

Marine Mammal Center

• Frances Gulland, Director of Veterinary Science (Sausalito Office)
• Greg Smith

Sea World (San Diego)

• Judy St. Leger, Corporate Director of Veterinary Pathology
• Lineke Begeman, Veterinary Student

Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute

• Sam Dover, Chief Veterinarian and Executive Director
• Ron & Barbara Barrett, Volunteers
• Cherilyn Willoughby, Volunteer

Jessica Waters, Videographer

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

• Jim Dines, Mammalology Collections Manager

Pt. Mugu Naval Base

• Ron Dow, Director of the Environmental Division
• Teri Reid, Public Affairs Officer
• J.T. Hesse, Volunteer
• Molly Thrash, Volunteer

Special thanks to the Pt. Mugu Naval Base for offering their beach as the working site to complete the necropsy.  Their timely and generous contribution allowed the necropsy team to collect fresh samples and data invaluable to the ongoing research efforts.

Related Information

• September 14 Blue Whale Stranding
• Marine Mammal Stranding Network
• Save the Whale

Media Contact
Easter Moorman
emoorman@sbnature2.org

Updated as of 09/24/07