The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is investigating after a massive grey whale washed ashore near Tofino.
The young cetacean was discovered on a beach near the Wya Point Resort in Ucluelet earlier this week.
It’s unclear how the whale died, and no obvious signs of trauma can be seen. The DFO is now trying to determine how and why the animal died.
Thousands of grey whales migrate through the area on the west side of Vancouver Island this time of year, on their way to the cooler waters of the Arctic Ocean.
This isn’t the first time a grey whale has washed up on area shores. In April 2015, a dead whale with signs of injury was found near Tofino. It’s believed the whale may have collided with a boat.
The 10-metre long yearling was dissected by biologists with DFO and Parks Canada, with the intention the carcass would eventually be displayed at the Royal B.C. Museum.
