{"id":44165,"date":"2024-11-27T11:03:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T10:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/db4fd635-dfd0-47a1-91a6-4f199d0372f6"},"modified":"2024-11-27T12:27:22","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T11:27:22","slug":"why-this-huge-frozen-whale-in-alaska-has-got-scientists-so-confused","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/why-this-huge-frozen-whale-in-alaska-has-got-scientists-so-confused\/","title":{"rendered":"Why this huge frozen whale in Alaska has got scientists so confused"},"content":{"rendered":"

Experts are trying to figure out exactly how the endangered fin whale died… <\/p>

By Daniel Graham\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 27 November 2024 at 10:03 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Over the weekend, a 15-metre-long (47-foot) fin whale washed ashore near Anchorage on the coast of Alaska.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

The whale\u2019s huge carcass, lying on its side with its mouth wide open, quickly drew crowds of curious onlookers, and an investigation into the cause of its death got underway.\u00a0<\/p>

By Monday morning, dozens of people had braved the frigid temperatures to see the frost-covered remains, which rested on the frozen mudflats near Westchester Lagoon.<\/p>

\u201cEveryone\u2019s real curious,\u201d said one local.\u00a0<\/p>

The fin whale washed ashore on the frozen mudflats near Westchester Lagoon, Alaska\/Getty <\/figcaption> <\/figure>
Some visitors even ventured inside the whale\u2019s mouth for photos, prompting authorities to issue safety warnings; in certain conditions, whale carcasses can explode<\/a>.<\/p>
According to experts, fin whales<\/a> \u2013 listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act\u00a0\u2013 aren\u2019t usually seen this close to Anchorage. So, how did it get there? One explanation for the stranding could be that recent high tides pushed the whale further into the Knik Arm, a waterway in the Gulf of Alaska, but this is only a theory.<\/p>

Locals gather around the fin whale\/Hasan Akba\u015f, Anadolu Agency, Getty <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

How do you get rid of a dead whale before it explodes?<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Cause of death?<\/h2>
The absence of gashes or marks from fishing nets indicates the death was not caused by human activity, say experts.<\/p>
To find out more, biologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration<\/a> (NOAA) secured the carcass to prevent it from drifting away. They then took samples for analysis to try and find out how the whale died \u2013 perhaps harmful algal blooms or diseases from the surrounding marine environment are to blame?<\/p>
But the results revealed no obvious cause of death.<\/p>
The team say the carcass will probably wash back into the sea during the next high tide over 10m (30 feet), and with it the mystery of how this great animal died will live on.<\/p>
$\"Fin$
Fin whales are listed as endangered\/Getty <\/figcaption> <\/figure>
More wildlife stories from around the world<\/strong><\/p>
100 endangered crayfish just dropped dead in England \u2013 and people don’t know why<\/a><\/li>
Scientists tracked these mountain lions in Los Angeles for seven years \u2013 now they’ve discovered something crucial<\/a><\/li>
The world\u2019s largest wildlife crossing is now standing in California \u2013 and it’s absolutely huge<\/a><\/li>
When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, a team of gophers were helicoptered in to bring it back to life<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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Cause of death?<\/h2> The absence of gashes or marks from fishing nets indicates the death was not caused by human activity, say experts.<\/p>