Southern California Conservation Organizations Join Forces to Determine the Cause of Death of Endangered Fin Whale
16 August 2024 - 12:08AM
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 10th.
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
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240815755400/en/
Press and Photo Contacts:
PMMC: Dr. Alissa Deming, 561-329-1487, ademing@pacificmmc.org
MMCCLA: John Warner, 424-450-0577, jwarner@marinemammalcare.org
OARRA: Keith A. Matassa, 949-395-4679, kmatassa@oarra.org