Dead fin whale found on Monterey State Beach

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION-TV)- Monterey Bay State Parks said they received word of a dead whale at Monterey State Beach on Saturday.

Marine Biologist with Monterey Bay Whale Watch, Colleen Talty, believes the whale was hit by a large ship based on the whale's body.

“My theory based on the curve in the body is most likely it was hit by a large ship, so possibly a cargo ship, unfortunately, and then it ended up washing up," said Talty. "It was actually out in the bay right next to Monterey harbor for about a day and a half, and then it washed up on the beach. This guy was mostly struck out in the shipping lanes.”

Talty also said the whale is a fin whale, the second largest whale species. The young whale was estimated to be 40-50 feet long, adults can get up to around 80 feet.

Talty added that shark bites were visible on the whale's carcass, likely from a great white, but she isn't sure.

The whale is also not being moved from the beach, and the plan as of now is to let it either decompose or wash back into the ocean on its own, said Talty.