Endangered Fin Whale Carcass Draws Crowds in Anchorage

Biologists investigate the mysterious death of a young female fin whale washed ashore in Alaska.

The 47-foot-long whale, estimated to be 1 to 3 years old, was discovered near Anchorage, attracting hundreds of onlookers.
Experts from NOAA and Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services have collected tissue samples to determine the cause of death.
High tides are believed to have pushed the whale into the Knik Arm, an area where fin whales are rarely seen.
Fin whales, the second-largest whale species, face threats from ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement, and climate change.
Biologists plan to untether the carcass and allow natural tides to move it after completing their examination.