On Monday, November 10, 2025, a team of veterinarians and marine biologists carried out a necropsy on a Cuvier’s beaked whale on Santa Monica Beach to help determine condition, cause of death, and any contributing factors. The animal — an adult male weighing more than 4,000 pounds and approximately 20 feet long — had originally washed up alive in Malibu on Friday before later coming ashore in Santa Monica.
The operation involved multiple agencies working side-by-side on the sand, including the California Wildlife Center, Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, and Santa Monica entities such as Beaches and Harbors, maintenance crews, police, fire, and lifeguards.
California Wildlife Center Marine Program Manager Heather Henderson said the effort aims to preserve as much of the skeleton as possible for scientific study, noting that findings from rare species like this can offer insight into broader ocean health.
Santa Monica Closeup reports this as part of ongoing documentation of coastal events.
No comments:
Post a Comment