In a poignant reminder of the perils facing marine life, a humpback whale spotted in Washington state's Salish Sea was found missing its tail flukes—a critical loss that poses severe survival challenges for the majestic creature. The whale was last seen on July 23, and experts fear that its future looks grim without the essential propulsion provided by its flukes.

A Devastating Encounter

Jessica Farrer, research director at The Whale Museum on San Juan Island, was among those who responded to the distressing sighting of the whale.

Known for their expertise in aiding stranded or distressed marine mammals and educating the public on responsible whale watching, the museum's team was deeply affected by the discovery. Farrer, who has encountered various whale injuries in her career, described this particular case as heart-wrenching.

The sighting took place in the intricate waterways of the Salish Sea, a region straddling the border between Washington state and British Columbia.

Since the initial report, no further sightings of the whale have been documented, raising concerns about its fate.

Farrer captured the gravity of the situation: “Everybody has an emotion when they witness a humpback whale dive, and you see those massive flukes that are over 15 feet (4.6 meters) across. Here’s this whale that has lost that. It’s like us losing our legs."

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