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‘Gut-wrenching’ photos show humpback whale with severed tail on B.C. coast
Global News
Conservationists say heartbreaking images of a humpback whale with a severed tail on B.C.'s coast should serve as a wake-up call.
Warning: This story contains images that may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised.
Conservationists say heartbreaking images of a humpback whale with a severed tail on B.C.’s coast should serve as a wake-up call.
The whale was spotted twice earlier this month, once near Klemtu and once near Greenpoint Rapids, north of Campbell River.
Campell River Whale Watching co-founder Tyler Bruce said a group was on the water on July 10 when they saw the whale struggling to swim against the current.
“It wasn’t until the whale went to sound that we actually saw the back end of the whale and the tail end being missing, and that was when you could hear a big gasp of disbelief,” he said.
“A pretty significant part of the whale was missing. It was quite a shock.”
Bruce forwarded images of the injured whale to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), where officials offered a grim prognosis.
“It was tragic, it was horrific…. I was frankly really surprised the animal was still alive,” Paul Cottrell with DFO Marine Mammal Rescue said.