Humpback whale dies in Seattle's Fauntleroy Cove

SEATTLE (KOMO) - A humpback whale, found struggling in the shallow water near Seattle's Fauntleroy Ferry dock on Sunday, has died.

The whale was spotted still alive around 6:30 a.m. in the Fauntleroy Cove area, just south of the ferry terminal.

Biologists from the Cascadia Research Collective and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the juvenile whale appeared to be sick and injured. It was also covered with an unusually large amount of what's known as whale lice.

"The animal is very, very thin, what we call emaciated," said John Calambokidis, a Cascadia Research Collective biologist. "That's not a normal body shape that the animal has."

Members of both agencies tried to help the whale by using wet blankets to keep it cool, but the whale died a few hours later.

"We were trying to keep it wet and comfortable and it unfortunately has passed away as the tide went out," said Jessie Huggins from the Cascadia Research Collective.

Onlookers gathered on the beach and along the ferry terminal to watch the scientist try to save the ailing animal.

"It always seems tragic you know, when it's something so beautiful, majestic and free as that," said Nate Eberson, a Vashon Island resident who was waiting at the ferry dock.

NOAA experts will take tissue samples to figure out what caused the whale's death. Biologists have tied ropes and buoys to the whale to keep the carcass in place until state or federal officials can tow it away.

Despite the whales death, biologists say there is some good news for the humpback whale population.

"All up and down the West Coast we've seen more than a fourfold increase in the abundance of humpback whales," said Calambokidis.

The Cascadia Research Collective estimates there are now about 20,000 humpback whales in the north Pacific, compared to just about 5,000 in the 1980's.