"AP reports that Federal law enforcement officials in Alaska U.S are investigating after a 48-foot female whale well-known in the waters of southeast Alaska was killed in a collision with a boat.
A tour-boat operator found the whale,
which had been seen in the waters of southeast Alaska for
nearly 40 years, near
Funter Bay on July 1. The carcass was hauled to a nearby beach, where a
necropsy was performed July 3, officials said Friday".
"The left mandible was fractured
and the right mandible was traumatically dislocated from the cranium," Dr.
Kathy Burek of Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, the lead veterinarian on
the necropsy, said in a statement Friday. "Cause of death was determined
to be ship strike."
During the necropsy, tissue and organ
samples were collected, including stomach contents. National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration officials said analysis of the eye and ear plug should
be able to determine the whale's age.
The whale was regularly seen in both Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and Icy Strait. The last documented sighting was two years ago. Whales are distinguished by their distinctively pigmented tails.
The whale's death serves as a reminder for ocean users to slow down and be careful, said Aleria Jensen, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region marine mammal stranding coordinator.
"With a recovering population, we are seeing more and more humpback whales every year. This is a reminder to take extra precaution when whales are in the area and slow your vessel's speed. It's the number one action to take to prevent ship strike," Jensen said.
There were 108 collisions between boats
and whales in Alaska waters from 1978-2011. Most of the boats involved were
small vessels. A third of the collisions resulted in human injury or property
damage. Many people were thrown into the water after the strike.
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