A 50-foot giant from the depths of the Pacific Ocean has washed up on the Oregon coast.
The massive creature – a 53-foot male sperm whale – was found ashore north of about 84 miles west of Portland, its barnacle-scarred body lay battered and still.
According to a Facebook post from the Seaside Aquarium in Seaside, Oregon, the sprawling whale washed ashore between Del Rey and Sunset Beach on the afternoon of May 29.
When marine experts discovered the beached behemoth, they said its ‘spine showed signs of blunt-force trauma and hemorrhaging’ consistent with a fatal collision at sea.
A necropsy was conducted on Monday by the Cascadia Research Collective, the Seaside Aquarium and Portland State University to help in determining the whale’s cause of death.
‘During the necropsy, damage to the vertebrate was visible along with signs of hemorrhage. This helped the team determine that this whale was struck by a vessel,’ the Seaside Aquarium said.
However, the dead whale had been spotted long before it washed ashore.
The massive creature – a 53-foot male sperm whale – was found ashore north of Seaside, between Del Rey and Sunset Beach, its barnacle-scarred body lay battered and still
According to a Facebook post from the Seaside Aquarium in Seaside, Oregon, the sprawling whale washed ashore some 84 miles west of Portland on the afternoon of May 29
According to the aquarium, the whale was initially reported dead on May 25, around 15 miles offshore.
Four days later, on May 27, it was seen again – this time only seven miles from land, according to the Seaside Aquarium.
‘The whale will be left on the beach to decompose naturally,’ the post added.
The natural decomposition process offers a rare chance for beachgoers to witness one of the ocean’s giants up close. It also provides a nutrition boost to the surrounding ecosystem.
Scavengers such as turkey vultures, bald eagles and even coyotes will have access to the whale’s remains for weeks or even months to come.
The Seaside Aquarium has since warned onlookers not to touch the giant sea creature.
A necropsy was conducted on Monday by the Cascadia Research Collective, the Seaside Aquarium and Portland State University
The enormous whale’s spine showed signs of blunt-force trauma and hemorrhaging consistent with a fatal collision at sea
‘Please remember to look – but do not touch. Marine mammals may spread potential diseases to humans and pets,’ the aquarium wrote.
Male sperm whales can grow to nearly 60 feet in length and weigh over 40 tons.
They are known to live up to 60 years, with males maturing around the age of 50, typically reaching about 52 feet.
Their diet includes deep-water species such as squid, sharks, skates, and fish. While their population is slowly recovering, sperm whales remain listed as endangered.
