On July 23, a humpback whale with a missing tail was observe off the coast of Washington state. Marine biologists suspect the whale’s tail was lost due to entanglement in fishing gear. Although the whale has shown remarkable adaptability, it is expect to face severe challenges, with starvation and exhaustion likely leading to its demise in the near future.
The flippers of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) play a crucial role in their movement through water, which is essential for their survival. Unfortunately, the oceans are often litter with fishing lines and other debris, leading to frequent entanglement issues for these majestic creatures.
Jessica Farrer, the lead responder and research director at The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, Washington, express concern, stating, “It’s extremely troubling. This magnificent creature is missing a crucial part of its body, and we recognize that human activity is largely to blame for this situation.”
In addition to serving as a natural history museum, the institute plays a crucial role in aiding distress or strand marine mammals. It also provides educational resources for whale watchers, promoting best practices for responsible observation.
While Farrer is familiar with treating injure humpback whales, she had never encounter a situation as distressing as this one.
The whale, now known as Catalyst, was first sight on July 5 on the eastern side of Swindle Island. As report by the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Catalyst was observe again on July 10 in the vicinity of Campbell River.
On July 23, a drone record footage of a humpback whale off the coast of Lopez Island. The video shows the whale using its pectoral fins to propel itself through the water.
After using its muscle to dive, the creature reveal its missing tail. Since being first spot, Catalyst has travel approximately 370 miles despite its injury.
“According to Farrer, the whale was moving at a steady pace of approximately 3.5 to 4.5 mph. It was diving and exhibiting typical humpback behavior as it journey from Campbell River to the San Juan Islands. ‘It’s like the little whale that could,’ Farrer remark.”
Whales use their tail flukes for deep dives in search of food and to communicate with other whales through tail slapping.
While Catalyst is capable of swimming, the whale may struggle to find food effectively, which could lead to starvation. Additionally, the new swimming method adopt by the whale is likely to result in faster fatigue.
Large whales, such as humpbacks, face significant threats globally, with entanglement in fishing gear being a major danger. Additionally, they are at risk from boat collisions and the adverse effects of climate change on their food sources.
Many humpback whales encounter entanglement at various stages of their lives, although they frequently manage to extricate themselves. The exact number of humpback whales that perish due to entanglement remains uncertain.
Estimates from the International Whaling Commission suggest that approximately 300,000 whales and dolphins lose their lives annually due to entanglement.
