Photos: Beached humpback whale dies in White Rock

by Staff on Jun 12, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Onlookers crowd around the dead humpback whale.
William Stewart

This morning (June 12), many people flocked to the beach in White Rock to see the young humpback whale that washed ashore and died.

Photographer William Stewart shot these images of the scene.

William Stewart
William Stewart
William Stewart
William Stewart
William Stewart
William Stewart
William Stewart
William Stewart
William Stewart
Comments (4) Add New Comment
DavidH
Jun 12, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Putting aside ALL of the politics surrounding an incident like this, I hope we can all agree that it's damned sad. No animal, human or otherwise, deserves to die this way, of starvation and in pain.

It is doubly sad to see so many "snuff porn" tourists racing to the scene with their cameras. Leave the poor thing in peace and allow DFO to deal with it as best they can. Hopefully, it will be quickly returned to the ocean where it can provide sustenance for other critters.
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Whalewatcher
Jun 13, 2012 at 9:46 am
Maybe they realize it's the closest they will ever be to seeing a real whale, and most definitely the closest their children will ever be.

Death is a part of nature. So is starvation and pain. Most wild animals die in pain. I'm sorry if that bothers you.

Think of it as a funeral, where people are paying their respects to an amazing creature who's life is done instead of something negative about all of us. It might improve your day!
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BobP
Jun 13, 2012 at 10:05 am
The shame of the White Rock beach is that sand is now filling the bay. A breakwater was installed years ago and it takes enough energy out of the water that sand which was previously taken back out to sea now deposits in the bay. At one time Navy vessels could tie up on the pier during the Sea Festival, now the end of the pier is barely up to yourf waist when the tide is in.
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RM
Jun 14, 2012 at 5:52 pm
It is a sad scenario anyway you look at it. Dead or alive, this humpback whale is a majestic mammal that lived where humans don't. We are naturally curious. Whalewatcher nailed it.

I hope DFO can determine where this type of gear is used and set laws in place to eliminate it! My 2 cents...
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