POINT MUGU : Ship’s Propeller Killed Blue Whale
- Share via
A blow to the head from the propeller of a ship killed the rare blue whale that recently washed onto San Nicolas Island’s Red Eye Beach, according to scientists’ findings reported Saturday.
The 80-foot-long, 90-ton whale was discovered on the beach Tuesday by two civilian Navy employees.
The whale was a 10- to 20-year-old female. A scientific team that included biologists from the National Marine Fisheries Service and Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History believe the whale collided with a ship and was struck by its propeller, according to the Associated Press. The propeller left a 10-by-10 foot bruise just below the animal’s jaw.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
