Recently, six dead gray whales have been discovered around San Francisco Bay, raising concerns among officials and researchers. The whales were found between May 21 and last Wednesday, including sightings at notable locations like Point Reyes National Seashore, Alcatraz, and Point Bonita. While some cases did not involve necropsies, a partial necropsy of a young gray whale showed inconclusive results, and findings from the latest necropsy remain pending.
This year has seen a significant increase in gray whale sightings in the area, with 33 recorded compared to just six last year. Wildlife experts are puzzled by the simultaneous rise in live sightings and the reports of marine casualties. Giancarlo Rulli from the Marine Mammal Center highlighted the need to understand the reasons behind this unusual situation, particularly why so many whales are both dying and being seen in greater numbers.
Of the 14 gray whales and one minke whale that have died this year in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, three fatalities were attributed to boat strikes. Whales are often curious and approach boats, which increases their risk of collisions. Furthermore, the long migrations—around 10,000 miles annually between breeding and feeding grounds—expose them to dangers such as vessel impacts and entanglement in fishing gear.
The National Marine Fisheries Service notes that gray whales, once ubiquitous in Northern Hemisphere waters, are now predominantly found in the North Pacific Ocean. Researchers are actively investigating potential factors behind the recent uptick in sightings and whale mortalities, as the whales are expected to continue their migration northward in the coming weeks.
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