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Gray whale found dead in Willapa River
A young gray whale, nicknamed "Willapa Willy" by locals, was discovered dead after traveling 20 miles (32.2 km) upstream in Washington state's Willapa River, according to the Cascadia Research Collective.
Timeline of events
The whale was first spotted last Wednesday in the river's north fork, approximately 145 miles southwest of Seattle. Researchers noted the animal appeared thin but showed no signs of injury and behaved normally.
Despite hopes the whale would return to the ocean on its own, it remained in the river until its death was confirmed over the weekend.
Possible causes of death
John Calambokidis, a research biologist with the Cascadia Research Collective, suggested hunger may have driven the whale inland. Gray whales rely on fat reserves during their spring migration to the Arctic, and depleted resources can force them to search for food in unusual areas.
"When that happens, you often see gray whales in a more desperate search for new areas to feed," Calambokidis told the Associated Press.
Broader challenges for gray whales
Gray whales in the eastern Pacific have faced declining food availability in the Bering and Chukchi seas near Alaska in recent years. Calambokidis described the situation as a "major crisis," with malnutrition at the core of the problem.
The species, which can grow up to 15 meters (49 feet) and weigh 40,000 kg (90,000 pounds), is vital to ecotourism along North America's west coast but faces threats from vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglements, and habitat loss.
Recent strandings and population decline
Two adult gray whales washed ashore in Ocean Shores earlier this month, both emaciated. The male also showed signs of a ship strike, according to the Cascadia Research Collective.
NOAA Fisheries reported the gray whale population has continued to decline, with an estimated 13,000 individuals remaining-the lowest count since the 1970s.
Next steps
The research group is assessing the safety of the site to conduct a necropsy and determine the exact cause of death.
