The carcass of a gray whale washed ashore in Huntington Beach, California, on Friday evening. People have reacted to the news with sadness and anger because they feel that not enough is being done for the environment, and we are not taking the warning signs seriously. CBS News Los Angeles reports that the whale was located near Lifeguard Tower No. 5 and the pier. The area had to be blocked off to prevent people from going near the carcass (a carcass this size has logistical issues and will have to be removed before it rots).
Footage was shared on TikTok, and the creator of the video, kd..law, commented on the whale’s size. “I’m now seeing on the news that she’s actually 50 feet long, 60K+ lbs. It’s heartbreaking,” she wrote. “She was a beautiful girl.” Despite her ginormous size, this was a young adult female whale.
People React To The News Of The Dead Gray Whale
The comment section has been filled with people expressing their sadness and commenting on the environment. “Humans are killing this planet,” a comment reads. “So sad but also so scary that lives in the ocean it’s their home and I won’t be intruding,” another person shared.
There has been speculation about what happened to the whale, with CBS News Los Angeles reporting that it could be due to the “ongoing domoic acid outbreak.” However, wildlife officials have yet to release an official statement. Comments on the video also claim that the gray whale has visible “scars from ships.” However, these claims differ from one made by Glenn Gray, chief executive of the Laguna Beach-based nonprofit Pacific Marine Mammal Center.
“The whale had no signs of physical injury,” Gray said, per The Los Angeles Times. This would include injury caused by boats or shark bites. A sample has been taken for testing, with Gray claiming, “It may take a couple weeks” befoe the results come back.
Some people feel this is the ocean’s way to warn us of how we are harming the planet. “I believe when they do this, they are warning humans how bad we destroy the ecosystem of the earth,” a person stated. However, there have also been others who have noted that the world turns a blind eye to sad stories like this that involve the environment because they are more concerned with being entertained.
The news of the dead whale coincides with the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which occurred from April 11 to 13. “Everyone is too busy with Coachella to care,” a comment states. Many others have liked the comment in agreement.
As those interested wait for the results confirming how the whale died, the news also gives us a chance to reflect on the state of the environment and the damage humans cause.
