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Humpback whale that washed up in Metro Vancouver likely killed by ship

A humpback whale found deceased last month in the waters off the Tsawwassen First Nation was likely killed after being hit by a ship’s propeller.

 A coast guard hovercraft was on the scene to remove a dead humpback whale near the Tsawwassen causeway earlier this month. Photograph By FILEA coast guard hovercraft was on the scene to remove a dead humpback whale near the Tsawwassen causeway earlier this month. Photograph By FILE

A humpback whale found deceased last month in the waters off the Tsawwassen First Nation was likely killed after being hit by a ship’s propeller.

On Wednesday, Fisheries and Oceans Canada released information on a necropsy done on the Nov. 16th incident at the TFN near the ferry terminal as well as a necropsy done on a killer whale calf that was found deceased near Gold River on Nov. 14.

“Necropsy results from the female humpback whale are consistent with catastrophic ship strike with propeller injuries. DFO is investigating,” said the release. “Necropsy results confirm that the transient killer whale calf (also known as Biggs) had been born alive, breathed and likely died three to five days postpartum. The examination indicates that the cause of death was a result of one of the following: maternal separation (separated from mother), maternal loss (mother died), neglect, or failure to thrive. Further analysis is required to determine cause of death. Blood and tissue samples will be further analyzed, and will likely require two to three weeks for results.”

The necropsies were performed on both animals on Nov. 16 to determine the cause of death.

“The results of these necropsies will feed into a growing body of knowledge to assist in assessing the threats to whales from a population health perspective,” said the release. “This data allows us to look at trends, pathogens, or other indicators that may affect their life cycles.”

The morning of Nov. 16, a local resident saw the humpback floating in the shallow waters and reported the finding to fisheries officials.

Elders from the TFN performed a cultural ceremony to send the whale onto its next journey during the late morning while waiting for fisheries officials to arrive and assess the scene.

In the afternoon a coast guard hovercraft arrived to help transport the whale to the hovercraft base on Sea Island where veterinary pathologist Dr. Stephen Raverty performed the necropsy.

“We would like to acknowledge the Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Tsawwassen First Nations communities for their ceremonial offerings before the necropsy on both the deceased killer whale and the humpback whale, and also acknowledge the efforts and collaboration from the BC Ministry of Agriculture (and in particular, Dr. Stephen Raverty, Veterinary Pathologist who performed the necropsy exam), and the University of British Columbia,” added the Fisheries and Oceans news release.