In this photo taken Tuesday, March 12, 2019, provided by The Marine Mammal Center, a gray whale carcass is examined by experts from the center and its partners with the California Academy of Sciences at Angel Island State Park, Calif. Marine experts say two dead gray whales were found in the San Francisco Bay this week and that one of them died from severe malnutrition. The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito said Thursday scientists were unable to determine a cause of death for the other whale. (Cara Field/The Marine Mammal Center via AP)
The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Marine experts say two dead gray whales were found in the San Francisco Bay this week and that one of them died from severe malnutrition.
The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito said Thursday scientists were unable to determine a cause of death for the other whale.
A team conducted necropsies on the 1-year-old, 23-foot (7-meter)-long female whales Tuesday at Angel Island State Park.
The center says the number of gray whales entering the San Francisco Bay this year has been "abnormally high." It says the animals are also staying much longer.
Gray whales are making their annual northward migration from Mexico to Alaska.
Padraig Duignan, the center's chief research pathologist, says it's likely the malnourished whale didn't have enough reserves built up to survive her journey north.
In this photo taken Tuesday, March 12, 2019, provided by The Marine Mammal Center, experts from the center and its partners at the California Academy of Sciences attempt to pull a gray whale carcass from the edge of the surf at Angel Island State Park, Calif. Marine experts say two dead gray whales were found in the San Francisco Bay this week and that one of them died from severe malnutrition. The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito said Thursday scientists were unable to determine a cause of death for the other whale. (Cara Field/The Marine Mammal Center via AP)
The Associated Press