KMPH: Dead pygmy sperm whale washes ashore at Pismo Beach
Published by KMPH Fox 26 News: February 19, 2025
The carcass of a pygmy sperm whale washed up on Pismo State Beach on Friday.
About 20 researchers, staff, and volunteers from The Marine Mammal Center and the Channel Islands Cetacean Research Unit (CICRU) conducted a necropsy on the dead whale.
It was first reported by park rangers around 8 a.m. and was identified as an adult male pygmy sperm whale measuring 10 1/2 feet.
Aliah Meza, Operations Manager at The Marine Mammal Center, said, "Investigating a whale's death through necropsy provides critical insights into the overall health of these animals and their ocean environment with the goal of understanding how best to protect them."
The opportunity to examine a pygmy sperm whale along the California coast is invaluable because it allows us to build important baseline data on this little-known species.
Various tissue samples were taken for further pathology testing.
The team noted the whale had numerous skin abrasions likely caused by rolling in the surf before becoming stranded. No other significant findings were immediately apparent.
Learn More About Our Work Saving Whales
Learn More About Whales
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/gray-whale-baleen-shutterstock.jpg","alt":"A gray whale\u2019s head rises above the ocean surface with its mouth open showing baleen.","title":"What Do Whales Eat? And Other Foodie Trivia","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/what-do-whales-eat-and-other-foodie-trivia","label":"News Update","date":"2024-11-22 11:51:35","type":"news"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/cropped-images\/humpback whale feeding-29-3-1270-992-1729799785.png","alt":"humpback whale feeding on fish in water","title":"Bay Nature: The Backstory on Pacifica\u2019s Whale Bonanza","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/bay-nature-the-backstory-on-pacificas-whale-bonanza","label":"In the News","date":"2024-10-10 02:00:00","type":"news"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/cropped-images\/whale-tail-with-bridge-and-ships-shutterstock-0-0-1270-992-1724360106.jpg","alt":"humpback swimming under golden gate bridge with ships","title":"San Francisco Chronicle: San Francisco Bay is Awash With Endangered Whales. Is it Good or Bad?","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/san-francisco-chronicle-san-francisco-bay-is-awash-with-endangered-whales-is-it-good-or-bad","label":"In the News","date":"2024-08-20 02:00:00","type":"news"}
San Francisco Chronicle: San Francisco Bay is Awash With Endangered Whales. Is it Good or Bad?
August 20, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/cropped-images\/humpback-whale-breach-golden-gate-by-pilar-rodriguez-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-26532-647-0-1710-1336-1702426697.jpg","alt":"humpback whale breaches with Golden Gate Bridge in the background","title":"New Urban Habitat for Endangered Humpback Whales: San Francisco Bay","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/new-urban-habitat-for-endangered-humpback-whales-san-francisco-bay","label":"Research Paper","type":"publication"}
{"type":"manual","image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/cropped-images\/humpback-whale-facing-shutterstock-86-12-740-578-1724359698.jpg","transparent":"0","alt":"humpback whale swimming underwater","label":"Cetaceans","text":"Humpback Whale","link_text":"","link_url":"\/animal-care\/learn-about-marine-mammals\/cetaceans\/humpback-whale","page_id":"52","person_id":null,"pub_id":null,"news_id":null,"event_id":null}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/humpback-whale-breach-shutterstock.jpg","alt":"","label":"Report an Animal","title":"Whale & Dolphin Sightings","link_url":"\/report-an-animal\/whale-dolphin-sightings","type":"page"}
Yes, I want to save a life!
Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/California sea lion\/cropped-images\/csl-release-4-5-24photo-by-chris-deimler-c-the-marine-mammal-center-138-0-1270-992-1745348188.jpg","alt":"Four young California sea lions walk on the beach toward the ocean.","title":"Achievements in Ocean Health","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/achievements-in-ocean-health","label":"News Update","date":"2025-04-23 10:20:00"}
{"image":"\/Misc\/Graphics\/cropped-images\/climate-change-graphic-giant-earth-shutterstock-1798-6-5113-3994-1680046432.jpg","alt":"An Earth Day graphic of people holding the planet, recycling, planting a tree and moving a solar panel.","title":"5 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/5-ways-to-celebrate-earth-day","label":"News Update","date":"2025-04-18 11:21:08"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Sea otter\/cropped-images\/sea-otter-mom-pup-photo-c-brian-simuro-505-0-3387-2646-1618247266.jpg","alt":"sea otter mother and pup","title":"Meaningful Mother\u2019s Day Gifts for Ocean Lovers","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/eco-friendly-mothers-day-gifts-that-give-back","label":"News Update","date":"2025-04-10 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor seal\/cropped-images\/harbor-seals-shutterstock-107-0-1270-992-1744225508.jpg","alt":"A group of harbor seal pups and mothers on the beach during pupping season.","title":"Your Guide to Seeing Harbor Seal Pups in California","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/your-guide-to-seeing-harbor-seal-pups-in-california","label":"News Update","date":"2025-04-10 00:00:00"}
