Tsawwassen hunchback died from ship strike, says DFO

The autopsy of a dead humpback whale stranded near the BC Ferries terminal at Tsawwbaden on November 16 shows that the whale died as a result of a collision with a ship, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The agency said the female humpback bump whose body had drawn a crowd of spectators to the area had sustained injuries consistent with a "catastrophic ship strike with helix wounds".

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is investigating the incident and said that necropsy will help badess the general health of whales in the area.

The whale carcbad attracted a crowd of spectators on Friday, November 16th. (Jon Hernandez / CBC)

Another necropsy on a dead killer whale calf found on Nootka Island off the west coast of Vancouver Island on November 14 was also conducted. He discovered that the calf was born alive and was probably dead three to five days later. The cause of death was either due to her mother's separation from loss, death, neglect or stunting.

The calf was a transient killer whale and was not part of the population of killer whales living in southern British Columbia and endangered.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada also thanked the Mowachaht / Muchalaht and Tsawwbaden First Nations communities for their ceremonies prior to the necropsy of the deceased killer whale and humpback whale.