Rotting 20-Ton Whale Carcass Fouling Malibu Carted Out To Sea
MALIBU (CBSLA.com) — The rotting -- and oh-so-smelly -- carcass of the twenty ton fin whale that washed up on a beach in Malibu last Monday, has been carted out to sea.
Officials moved the 41-foot male Saturday afternoon after scores of area residents complained about the stench.
After the whale washed up last week, several jurisdictions went back and forth trying to determine who was responsible for the whale's disposal.
County Fire Department dispatcher Christina Flores said department officials confirmed to dispatchers that an effort to move the whale was being mounted by lifeguard officials.
The Malibu Homeowners Association hired a private company to haul the dead whale away.
Inspector Brian Riley said earlier that state officials performed a necropsy on the whale, which he said "was pretty well decomposed with the tail intact."
Authorities decided to tow the whale back out to sea where the remains "would be eaten by sharks and other sea creatures," Riley said.
The whale was taken 20 miles out and dumped.
Officials believe the whale was hit by a ship. Among its injuries was a gash to the back and spinal damage.
Scientists surmise about 2,300 fin whales live off the California Coast.
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