A Gray Whale, similar to the one found near Santa Cruz
Digital News Report – The remains of a gray whale that was found floating off of the Santa Cruz coast on Wednesday were hauled away to a landfill today. The 2-ton 25-foot baby grey whale was towed up a cliff and placed on the back of a flat bed truck to be transported to the dump. The whale was previously tied to a buoy to keep it out of the way for boats, but towing it any further was impossible due to a reef and large waves. Scientists were unable to perform a necropsy due to the highly public area where the whale washed up and thus will most likely not be able to determine an exact cause of death. The whale nearly washed up on shore near the Boardwalk before it was secured to the buoy. It had also drifted under the Wharf. Eventually it came untied from the buoy ended up in a small rocky cove a quarter mile from Lighthouse Beach before being towed away. The body has attracted numerous onlookers during all parts of its journey. Many people gathered on the Wharf over the past could of days as well as showing up to watch the whale get towed out of the water, transported, and subsequently buried. The removal and burial process cost Santa Cruz nearly $3,000.
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