Juvenile Fin Whale Dies at Torrance Beach

A 40-foot juvenile fin whale, the second-largest whale species on Earth, washed ashore at Torrance Beach, California, on Saturday evening, drawing crowds of onlookers. The whale was in poor health and distress, with skin bumps and no signs of entanglement or ship strikes. Despite efforts from responders, the whale died about an hour after being discovered. Marine Mammal Care Center specialists collected samples for necropsy to determine the cause of death. Plans were made to tow the whale out to sea to become part of the marine ecosystem. The public was advised to keep a distance while officials worked on removing the carcass.