Endangered Fin Whale Carcass Draws Crowds to Anchorage Beach

An endangered fin whale carcass washed up near Anchorage, Alaska, drawing crowds and prompting biologists to investigate its cause of death. The 47-foot female whale, likely 1 to 3 years old, was found near a coastal trail, and experts from NOAA and Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services are collecting samples to determine the cause, though decomposition may complicate findings. Fin whales face threats from ship strikes, fishing gear entanglements, and climate change. The whale's presence near Anchorage is unusual, possibly due to recent high tides.