Quick Take
A fin whale became stranded on Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz on Thursday morning, prompting an emergency response as biologists monitored the distressed animal. The whale initially appeared alive but showed no apparent signs of breathing by 10 a.m.
A fin whale became stranded on Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz on Thursday morning. City workers and rescue teams responded to the scene after a call came in around 8:30 a.m.
Although the whale appeared alive when the Marine Mammal Stranding Network was notified, it did not appear to be breathing by 10 a.m.
Bystanders watched from the beach and the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf as the whale’s long body swayed listlessly in the surf.
Biologists were observing the whale to try to determine its sex and vital signs, said Juli Limon, the stranding coordinator for Long Marine Lab’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network. “It was first reported to us between 8:00 and 8:30 in the morning, alive with strong breath. Right now, we’re trying to keep track of the last time it breathed and had intentional movement,” she said.
In a post on Instagram, the city acknowledged that it was responding to a whale stranding. “Marine Safety personnel are on scene, as well as the appropriate marine mammal response agencies,” it said. “The immediate area surrounding the whale has been closed off. We ask the public to respect the designated perimeter, and allow responders the space they need to assess the situation.”
This is a developing story.
