Rare 46-foot fin whale washes up dead on Oregon beach

A dead 46-foot whale washed ashore on the Oregon coast with numerous wounds this week — though researches made clear the injuries likely didn’t kill the mammal, officials said.

The remains of a fin whale, which comes from an endangered species, became stranded at Sunset Beach State Park on Monday while appearing “thin and emaciated,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a press release.

Scientists believe the subadult male likely died from an underlying illness, though further testing is required to pinpoint which disease killed him.

“The whale came ashore entangled, the injuries associated with the entanglement appeared to be fresh and superficial,” the NOAA stated. “The team also recorded wounds from killer whales, called ‘rake marks.’”

When the whale initially washed onto the beach Monday, the NOAA urged passerby not to touch the carcass.

“Our best chance of learning what happened to this endangered species is to examine the carcass, but any disturbance or interaction with the carcass compromises that opportunity,” the agency stated.

A team released the gas built up from the fin whale’s decomposition Tuesday so it wouldn’t explode, Seaside Aquarium staff told oregonlive.com. The whale remained in place because oddly enough, it’s good for the surrounding environment.

“It may sound strange but it is a great nutrient boost,” Seaside Aquarium spokesperson Tiffany Boothe told the outlet. “It provides a lot of food for eagles and other scavengers.”

She also warned beachgoers to avoid touching the carcass to avoid contracting any possible diseases the whale had.

The fin whale was the first of its kind to get stuck on the Oregon coast in at least 10 years, NOAA spokesperson Michael Milstein told oregonlive.com.