Source: Screen capture from video produced by Tacoma News Tribune. To watch the video see the link at the end of this article.
A large dead whale was discovered Monday morning in the Port of Tacoma, prompting an investigation by state and federal wildlife officials.
According to reporting by The News Tribune, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was notified of the whale at about 5 a.m. Monday after the animal was found in the Port of Tacoma area.
WDFW and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are involved in the response and are working to learn more about the animal and the circumstances surrounding its death.
As of Monday afternoon, several basic questions remained unanswered, including the whale's species and cause of death.
The discovery comes in one of Tacoma's busiest stretches of waterfront, where industrial port operations share Commencement Bay with seals, sea lions, whales and other marine wildlife.
Determining what killed a stranded or deceased whale can require an examination by marine-mammal specialists. Officials had not yet announced Monday whether a necropsy would be performed on the Tacoma whale.
There was also no immediate information about how long the whale may have been dead before it was discovered or how it came to be in the Port.
Officials had not yet announced plans for removing or otherwise handling the carcass.
This is a developing story, and more information is expected as wildlife officials examine the whale and determine their next steps.
👉 This story is based on reporting by The News Tribune. Read the original report here.
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