Dead whales wash up at Seaview and Oysterville, Washington
Published 4:00 pm Sunday, January 22, 2012
SEAVIEW – A 39 foot sperm whale washed ashore 6.9 miles north of Seaview, Washington and a 13 foot newborn Gray Whale washed in just south of Oysterville, Washington over the past 48 hours.
“Both whales where brought in by the heavy winds which have been hitting the Oregon and Washington coast. Both whales had been dead quite a while before washing ashore,” Keith Chandler, Seaside Aquarium director said.
“Scientifically, the most important part of the sperm whale has already been recovered, the jaw,” Chandler said. “Due to the fact that the sperm whale has been dead for a long time, very little information will be obtained by the necropsy. The gray whale is in a little better condition and we hope that after the necropsy we will know why that particular animal died.”
Dr. Debbie Duffield from Portland State University will conduct necropsies on the animals.
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