A 36-foot gray whale was discovered dead on Alcatraz Island and later washed ashore at Black Sands Beach in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Marine Mammal Center researchers are investigating the whale's cause of death through autopsy and sample collection. Preliminary findings showed no evidence of trauma or ship strikes. Concerns were raised regarding the visibility of gray whales to boaters in the area, especially following an unusual mortality event that significantly affected the population in recent years. Results on the cause of death are pending.
"It will take several weeks for the results to be processed on the whale's cause of death, which is not known at this time, researchers said."
"While this number of gray whales in San Francisco Bay is exciting to see, it does raise concerns for both human and whale safety," Kathi George stated.
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