Starving Gray Whale Dies in Washington River

0:00On April 6, a young gray whale swam 20 miles up the Willapa River in Washington State and was found dead there. Local researchers from the Cascadia Research Collective confirmed the news, pointing to hunger as the likely cause since the whale looked thin but had. No visible injuries. Earlier this week, the group noted the whale was acting normal despite its condition, and they hoped it would swim back out on its own. That didn't happen, so now they're checking the site's safety for a full exam. Experts say gray whales burn through their fat reserves during their long spring migration up the Pacific coast to feed in the Arctic. With less food of north and recent years, these animals get desperate and venture into unusual spots like rivers. The bigger picture shows gray whales facing a real crisis from scarce prey in the bearing and chute-cheese off Alaska. They also deal with ship strikes, fishing gear entanglements, and mostly travel solo without strong group bonds. Just this month, two more adult gray whales, both 42 feet long,

1:01washed up dead nearby in ocean shores, one malnourished female, and a male with. Head trauma from what looks like a boat hit. This underscores the ongoing struggles for these Pacific travelers as researchers keep monitoring the population. This has been Global News Today, powered by AI.