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Dead Whale Carcass Spotted Off Torrey Pines Coast

A dead grey whale off the coast of Torrey Pines State Park, March 26, 2018.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
A dead grey whale off the coast of Torrey Pines State Park, March 26, 2018.

UPDATE: Tuesday, March 27,2018

NOAA officials say the whale likely died after colliding with a boat. They will however still test tissue and bone samples to confirm its death. Researchers say the gray whale has been dead for about a week and since decomposition is advanced tissue testing may not be effective in determining a cause of death. They advise beachgoers to avoid the water near Torrey Pines and Fiesta Island where the carcass was for the next 24 hours to give the water a chance to clear up. Official suspect this whale carcass may be the same carcass spotted drifting near the coast in Northern California a few days ago.

A dead gray whale turned up Monday in the ocean off the coast of Torrey Pines State Reserve, authorities reported.

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Lifeguards spotted the carcass drifting in the swells near Black's Beach about 11 a.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

After consulting with the National Marine Fisheries Service, lifeguards decided to tow the remains of the cetacean to Fiesta Island, SDFRD spokeswoman Monica Munoz said. On Tuesday morning, city Parks and Recreation staffers will haul the carcass to a municipal landfill for disposal, she said.

Dead Whale Carcass Spotted Off Torrey Pines Coast
A dead whale turned up Monday in the ocean off the coast of Torrey Pines State Reserve, authorities reported.