Sunday, May 10, 2015

Sharp Park whale carcasses may be removed soon


NBC News Bay Area/Local/Lisa Fernandez, 5/6/15, includes video 2.54 minutes. "Probable Ship Strike" caused death of Humpback whale in Pacifica: scientists."

Note:  the closing video comment from Lisa Fernandez, Reporter. "SF Park and Rec may be burring both whale carcasses tomorrow, (5/7/15)."  

Image result for humpback whale picture
Humpback whale
A "probable ship strike" killed a humpback whale that washed up in Pacifica earlier this week, scientists performing a necropsy on the mammal said Wednesday, (5/6/15). Laura Sherr, spokeswoman for The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, said the whale had "four fractured vertebrae with surrounding hemorrhaging, and one broken rib," that led scientists to their conclusion. "This happens occasionally,

" she said. Later in the day the scientists realized they couldn't come to a final conclusion about the cause of death because they couldn't find any more broken ribs.

Related, removal of  whalesNBC/KSBW Monterey, News 8, 5/6/15,  "The sperm whale hasn't been moved, according to Police Chief Dan Steidle, because no jurisdiction has yet to claim it. Steidle told NBC Bay Area that the dispute is whether the first whale's body lies on the property of the city of Pacifica, the federal Golden Gate National Recreation Area that embodies Mori Point, the city and county of San Francisco's Recreation and Park District that owns a golf course nearby, or the state of California. He said Pacifica is waiting for a ruling to decide who will move the whale and how to move it.

Photo: Sunlight reflected through water ripples illuminates a sperm whale
Sperm whale
Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the best thing to do is to tow the whale back out in the ocean, but at this point, it may be too late, he said, because the carcass of the sperm whale is deeply embedded in the sand.  As for the humpback found on Monday (5/4/15), Steidle said; "This one is definitely San Francisco's."

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Related, last whale (Humpback whale).  Click 2 Houston.com, 5/6/15, video 1.23 minutes,  "Spate of dead whales puzzles California biologists," "A dead whale washed ashore on a beach in Pacifica, California, Tuesday (5/5/15). It's the fifth whale to end up on a Northern California beach in three weeks. Experts say it's natural for whales to die. What is unusual is the strong wind that is blowing the dead whales to shore." KRON 4/SFist/Thisa Estacio/Pacifica, 5/5/15, video 2:59 minutes, "Another dead whale washes ashore in Pacifica."  "What remains to be seen: how to dispose of the whale carcass. We all know what not to do, but what is environmentally encouraged?"

Related, first whale (sperm whale).  San Francisco Chronicle/SF Gate/Associated Press/Kristin J. Bender and Jeff Chiu, 4/16/15, "Experts remove whale carcass near San Francisco." (Not really). "Disposing of a large marine mammal like this is no small feat. Multiple agencies are working together to determine the best course of action," said Dr. Claire Simeone, a veterinarian at the Marine Mammal Center.

Note: photograph/graphics: Humpback whale from  7 Themes.com/Wallpapers. Sperm whale by Brian J. Skerry from National Geographic.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

25 comments:

Sharon said...

Nice to finally hear that something might happen to dispose of them. The stench out on the berm is really obnoxious. To bad they've fiddled around to long to make it practical to tow them out. I've read burying them can be problematic as their oil seeps up to the surface as they decay.

Anonymous said...

Are the whales gone?

Sharon said...

Nope still there and stinkin'

Anonymous said...

Pretty soon they can just hose them off
the beach. Pacifica City Council must have been overcome by the smell, struck dumb, and rendered completely irrelevant. Can we hose them off?

Sharon said...

Not yet still a lot of rotting to be done and funny thing I don't see any carrion hanging around.

Anonymous said...

Leave them there long enough then say, oh we can't move them now.

Diversion 101!

Sharon said...

Does anyone know of a friendly INUIT tribe that might want to contract for the job? They know how to hunt and render whales.

Tom said...

Sharon Maybe there not ripe enough yet.

Tom Clifford said...

If anybody knows how to scrimshaw the teeth and bone would be valuable. Hint,hint City of Pacifica lay claim to the whales now,bury them and dig up the bones later for sale.

Steve Sinai said...

How about piano keys?

Anonymous said...

Piano keys? Oh no. Don't tell me we have dead elephants, too.

Anonymous said...

Tom

What part of the whales are both endangered species don't they understand.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse!

Anonymous said...

cute chit chat about the teeth, boys. illegal to take any part of a sperm whale. Can't collect snowy plover teeth either...

Sharon said...

@6:33 & 9:38 can you advise/cite regarding the laws governing the disposal of endangered species. Would like more info about that. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Sharon, It's the ultimate political football. State beach but within the county and city footprint and a nuisance to city and county residents. Forget this city. Maybe try SMC Dept of Environmental Health. The advanced stage of decomp limits the choices here. In March, authorities decided to let a dead whale beached in Santa Cruz decompose in place. They sort of cut it up a bit to speed things along. Looks like we're doing the same, but not announcing it. What a surprise.

Sharon said...

Thanks 10:15 I am aware of the political issues regarding who's property the whales are beached on but 6:33 and 9:38 seemed to indicate there are specific laws and regulations governing the disposal of dead endangered species and I am curious about those.

Anonymous said...

Sharon

The whales are endangered species regardless if they are dead or alive.



Sharon said...

So you say but is there something in the endangered species act that addresses this specific issue or any other federal, state or municipal laws or regulations? If so you better get out there right now and arrest that guy who is busy cutting up the sperm whale.

Tom Clifford said...

Sharon:
I know that there is a law that prevents the use of Whale bone & teeth for scrimshaw (to prevent the killing of whale) but I do not know if it has an exemption for bones & teeth of whales that died of natural causes.

Anonymous said...

If someone is out there cutting up a whale that could be the start of disposal. Either to haul away the remains or speed up decomp in place. Necropsy finished, right? No crime committed, but it would still be illegal to harvest any part. It's just a huge disposal problem and no one eager to do the job.

Anonymous said...

Back in the day when we had this same problem, Scott Holmes had it buried by someone already working nearby on the beach or the trail or something or other. Say what you will about the man, but Scott Holmes was a problem solver. He also knew there'd be no rush by fed, county or state to claim the honors. So he had it buried and some macho working class hero got to tell his kids he buried a whale.

Anonymous said...

Back in the day when we had this same problem, Scott Holmes had it buried by someone already working nearby on the beach or the trail or something or other. Not sure if DPW or a contractor. Say what you will about the man, but Scott Holmes was a problem solver. He also knew there'd be no rush by fed, county or state to do the job. So he had it buried and some macho working class hero got to tell his kids he buried a whale.

Anonymous said...

What an embarrassment to our city.
We absolutely cannot make up our minds to do ANYTHING!
No wonder the NOBIES have such a field day pushing everyone around. The only opposition they really face are blank stares.
Poor, poor Pacifica.

Anonymous said...

Gee, this must be really unpleasant for the golfers at Sharp Park. Anyone downwind, but those poor golfers. Is their a fund?

Anonymous said...

1156 Nobies. Those beasts! That lawful, democratic election was brutal!