A humpback whale stranded off the coast of Oregon was euthanized Monday after a rescue attempt by several organizations and agencies failed.
On Saturday, the young whale was found stranded near San Marine National Park, KOMO News reported. Over the weekend, individuals mobilized to try to help the mammal, which appeared to be caught in a fishing net, but without success.
Oregon State Police showed up at 10 a.m. Sunday to clear the area and a rescue mission was launched Monday morning.
Trained rescuers attempted to wrap a bridle around the whale and tie it to a boat at sea in an attempt to turn it toward the ocean, said Lisa Ballance of the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University, according to OPB.
But as high tide approached, the rope separated and the bridle slipped off the whale. Ballance told KATU the situation was evolving “rapidly,” emphasizing how complex it is to move such a large animal, especially with the risk of injury. She added that a large-scale rescue effort was not possible due to the limited resources available.
When the attempt to reorient the whale and tow it back to sea proved unsuccessful, experts determined that euthanasia was the most humane option, according to a statement released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), responsible for managing the country’s ocean resources and their habitat.
“The prolonged period on land left the whale weak and unlikely to survive. Veterinarians euthanized the whale late in the afternoon on November 17. Responders will conduct a necropsy to assess the animal’s overall health and help determine why it died. [was] blocked,” Noaa said in the statement.
Other rescue methods, such as bailing and even the rope and pulley system attempted by rescuers, are difficult to implement and are not always successful. Likewise, returning a large whale to the ocean is considered inhumane and carries risks, as it could result in serious injury. Dredging a channel for a whale would also be impractical, as it has historically led to whales drowning, Noaa said.
“It’s a very sad and tragic situation,” Ballance said. “There’s no way to present this in a positive way. I know the general public is heartbroken…It’s hard to watch, hard to experience.”
