
© FacebookFour dead humpback whales have been found off the B.C. coast over the last week, including this one found near Klemtu.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is investigating whether there's any link between four humpback whales found dead off B.C.'s central coast over the last week.
Marine mammal coordinator Paul Cottrell said necropsies were performed on two of the whales, but it could take weeks to determine the causes of death.
Though details are sparse, Cottrell said the number of recent discoveries is troubling.
"It's definitely a pulse and it's something we are concerned about," he said. "We're hoping we don't get any more."
One of the whales, a young female, was reported a few days ago near the community of Klemtu, north of Bella Bella. Someone from the local First Nation secured the whale to the shore, allowing Cottrell and a provincial veterinarian to perform a necropsy on Saturday.
Philip Charles, a guide with Spirit Bear Adventures, shared
breathtaking photos of the animal online along with an emotional farewell.
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