Officials say the whale could roll in the surf, posing a danger to beachgoers
Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A 9-foot, 11-ton humpback whale washed ashore in California’s Newport Beach on Feb. 18
- Hazardous ocean conditions have delayed the removal of the dead animal
- A necropsy is pending as authorities warn the public to stay at least 100 feet away from the carcass
A massive humpback whale washed ashore on a California beach, prompting safety warnings and an urgent assessment by marine officials as crews determine how to remove the 11-ton carcass.
According to The Orange County Register, the dead whale is estimated to be between 27 and 29 feet long and weighs roughly 20,000 to 23,000 pounds. Newport Beach lifeguard chief Brian O'Rourke told the outlet that the mammal was first spotted offshore of Newport Beach on Wednesday, Feb. 18, around 1:45 p.m. near 28th Street before drifting onto the sand near 11th Street around 3 p.m., between the Newport and Balboa piers and close to Newport Elementary School.
The whale is believed to be a subadult humpback, likely about a year old. Humpbacks do not reach sexual maturity until after 5 years of age. Staff from the Pacific Marine Mammal Center responded to the scene to collect samples and begin an initial assessment of the cause of death.
Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty
As of writing, the cause of death remains unknown. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesperson Michael Milstein told The Orange County Register that experts will conduct a preliminary review followed by a necropsy.
PEOPLE reached out to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for further comment.
Officials reported that removal efforts were stalled on Wednesday due to strong winds and hazardous ocean conditions. "The salvage boat can't even do it because the weather is still extreme out in the outer water, and it's too dangerous to tow," O'Rourke explained.
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center warned that stormy seas and rising tides make the whale a public safety concern, given that the carcass could shift unexpectedly in the surf. "The stormy ocean conditions and rising tide make the whale a public safety concern, as the large body could roll onto bystanders who are too close," the center said in a statement.
O'Rourke urged the public to keep away from the carcass. "Just please stay away from it right now until we can get the salvage disposal of the whale underway," he stated. "It's massive; there could be some danger to the public, it's rolling away from the surfline. It could cause damage, even crush them."
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According to the Marine Mammal Commission, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, humpback whales are protected, and members of the public are required to stay at least 100 yards (300 feet) away.
Officials are monitoring tides in hopes that higher water levels could pull the whale back out to sea. If not, crews may need to cut the animal into sections and haul it away — a process previously used in similar situations. "We're working on a plan to dispose of it," O'Rourke said. "For it to just decay on the beach would cause a lot of different problems."
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