Four Gray Whales Found Dead Off BC Coast

Four dead gray whales have washed ashore off British Columbia's coast over the past 10 days in April, prompting officials with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to warn of additional deaths ahead as the animals migrate north.

The latest carcasses, consisting of three males and one female, were discovered in areas including Barkley Sound, near Kyuquot and Sidney, all along Vancouver Island. Two of the whales showed extreme emaciation, described by Paul Cottrell, the department's marine mammal coordinator, as the worst body condition he has ever observed. "I've never seen such poor body condition," Cottrell said.

This brings the total gray whale deaths in B.C. waters to five so far this year, compared to a previous high of 11 recorded throughout 2019. Cottrell noted that ongoing sampling and necropsies will help determine precise causes, but initial assessments point to severe malnutrition. "We're hoping it's just a blip, but the indications are that we're likely going to see more mortalities," he said in an interview. "The underlying consistent thing we're seeing is very skinny animals, with certain animals that are just really a bag of bones."