A large team from multiple organizations convened on Tuesday, November 18 to conduct a necropsy on the young humpback whale that stranded over the weekend near Yachats, Oregon.
The necropsy revealed the whale to be a male measuring 26 feet. The team collected many samples, which will undergo analysis at the Oregon State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. They noted some lesions. The whale had no stomach contents, and was in fair body condition at the time of necropsy.
The team is grateful to a local contractor that provided lighting and a small excavator. They are also thankful to the local community and bystanders for understanding the logistical and complex challenges that come with large whales onshore.
Oregon State University will release more details of the necropsy and the sample analysis as they become available.