A juvenile humpback whale, injured and swimming slowly off the coast of La Jolla, is being monitored closely by multiple agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and San Diego lifeguards.

“There is a lot of concern that the whale is not doing well,” said Lifeguard Lieutenant John Sandmeyer. “The concern is that it’s having trouble diving.”

The whale has large lacerations on its back and flukes, Sandmeyer said.

San Diego city lifeguards first became aware of the whale earlier in the weekend, after learning it been entangled in ropes and buoys. At the time, the animal was near Bird Rock in La Jolla and not moving well.


Monday afternoon the young humpback whale, measuring between 20 feet and 25 feet long, was still swimming slowly about a half mile off the shore of the Children’s Pool.

A team of researchers from SeaWorld, authorized by NOAA Fisheries, evaluated the whale from a distance, using poles and cameras. They determined the mammal, likely a few years of age, to be in poor condition, as the entanglement had caused severe wounds.

Members of the public had removed the lines entangling the whale prior to the team’s evaluation. No additional lines were found.

“There is potential the animal will not survive,” said Justin Viezbicke, the California stranded network coordinator for NOAA Fisheries. “There’s not much we can do.”


Lifeguards alerted the Coast Guard to the whale’s whereabouts and the agency issued a navigation hazard warning boaters to stay away.

Early Monday evening, a few nearby boats appeared to ignore the warning in the hopes of getting a closer look at the young humpback. Most visitors to the Children’s Pool on Monday, however, seemed unaware of the mammal’s presence. Those that did spot it were not aware of the whale’s condition.

“It’s kind of odd that (the whale has been) there so long,” said Ofer Shimrat, 57, who was visiting the Children’s Pool with his daughter when he noticed the whale lingering in the area. The Rancho Penasquitos resident stayed to observe the whale. “It’s staying above the surface.”

Lifeguards monitored the juvenile humpback whale from shore until sundown on Monday. They plan to resume their watch on Tuesday morning.


https://www.10news.com/news/seaworld-and-lifeguards-help-young-whale-at-windansea-beach


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