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Huge Blue Whale Killed By a Ship in California.


Animals  (tags: death, animal, blue whales, accident )

Katie
- 69 days ago - wildlifeextra.com
A huge, 72 foot long, female Blue whale has been killed by a collision with a ships propeller off California. The carcass of the whale, clearly showing a deep gash on its back, weighs more han 50 tons and has washed ashore at the base........
Comments

Roseann D. (74)
Wednesday October 21, 2009, 9:42 pm
Ocean survey vessel....apparently they don't SURVEY very well.
 

Blacktiger P. (230)
Wednesday October 21, 2009, 10:38 pm
Yeh and probably using sonar so the whale was deafened!!
 

JennyLynn W. (125)
Wednesday October 21, 2009, 11:08 pm
This massive and majestic mammal, a warm-blooded creature who's maybe a grandmother, likely a mother - killed by a ship propeller. We know they migrate, why aren't the captains paying attention? Good grief and ARRRGH! Those sailing ships are looking really attractive, more and more.
 

Cheree Million (137)
Thursday October 22, 2009, 12:43 am
Sadly Noted. Thanks Katie.
 

Tierney G. (322)
Thursday October 22, 2009, 1:22 am
Very sad poor thing. Thanks Katie
 

Julie van Niekerk (139)
Thursday October 22, 2009, 3:37 am
What a waste of precious life. Sacred blood became wasted blood!
 

Lionel Mann (2)
Thursday October 22, 2009, 8:19 am
Unfortunately all animal life is endangered by modern transport. Consider also the number of cats and dogs that fall victims to motor traffic. A happy thought, however, is the number of dolphins who are always playing around boats here without ever having an accident.
 

David v. (7)
Thursday October 22, 2009, 10:32 am
It's always sad when technology and nature collide in such a way...
 

Rooibos Bird (137)
Thursday October 22, 2009, 12:24 pm

Lionel, I think it's because the dolphins, since they are smaller, are more agile and can maneuver away more quickly. That might be why whales do get hit and dolphins seemingly don't. Then again...there could well be dolphin strikes we don't know about.

Here in Florida, even though it's mandatory that a prop cage be mounted on every boat to protect the manatees, many people don't do it because they think law enforcement probably won't catch up with them....and sadly, they are right. Manatees are still getting injured and killed.

I wonder if a mandatory prop cage would have potentially saved this whale's life?
 

Marie G. (0)
Thursday October 22, 2009, 1:00 pm
Very sad to keep on having these pointless deaths. But we can pass on possible solutions to the authorities: mandatory prop cages; permanent aerial surveys of entire area; survey data posted on internet for captains both prior to sailing and during journey.
 

Ron M. (42)
Thursday October 22, 2009, 1:52 pm
Oh sure, the authorities will take action, the moment it is too late. Nothing will be done sooner because there is no money in it for them. Why spend money for prop cages to protect an animal that just "swims around".

Until people in general get the notion as to why this planet has all these animals and their particular purpose in the various eco systems that keeps us the people alive, directly or indirectly, blind- and deafness will prevail.
 

Jenny Dooley (461)
Thursday October 22, 2009, 2:33 pm
Very sad!
 

Shirley A. (24)
Thursday October 22, 2009, 2:40 pm
There has to be technology that can prevent this. Why can't the vessel owners step up to the plate and install it. Do we have to legislate this too????? I truly wish that we could be a society that takes personal and corporate responsibility as the first response to making this entire world a better and safer place. Leaves such an empty feeling inside when we hear of these things.
 

Elderberry T. (188)
Thursday October 22, 2009, 6:54 pm
Blue whales are endangered and this is really sad news. Surely they could have avoided this collision, what the hell is radar for????
 

Nan B. (53)
Friday October 23, 2009, 3:07 am
This is so very sad! I hate to here stories like this, a real heartbreaker. Where is the sonar at, I guess they don't use it for saving lives.
 

ian L. (2)
Friday October 23, 2009, 9:00 am
Someone should design a cage that surrounds the propeller so that this kind of thing stops happening.It seems like a No-brainer,
 

Koo J. (97)
Friday October 23, 2009, 3:55 pm
Amazing blue colour and so sad.

Imho, humans should take wildlife and nature into account when inventing or designing technology, machines and transport which intrudes on animals' habitats. This world is not all and only about humans and their needs.
 

Cynthia Davis (249)
Saturday October 24, 2009, 12:28 pm
What's sad about this is that it could have been prevented.
 
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