A humpback whale, approximately four years old, has been discovered deceased close to Keats Island in Howe Sound. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is conducting an investigation into the cause of death. Alex Cole, a resident of Howe Sound, learned about the deceased whale through a local Facebook group he manages on Saturday evening. Subsequently, he navigated his boat to the south side of Keats Island on Sunday morning to capture images of the deceased whale situated against the rocks. Describing the sight as sorrowful and tragic, Cole expressed his emotions, stating, “It’s obviously sad, a very sad and tragic thing to see a big beautiful whale … in that sort of vulnerable position.”
The deceased whale was found in the same vicinity where a humpback whale had been struck by a whale-watching vessel on October 23. A statement released by the whale-watching company Prince of Whales indicated that based on the timing and location, they believe this deceased whale could be the same one involved in the previous incident on Thursday. The company expressed devastation upon receiving this news and affirmed their commitment to collaborating with the DFO as the situation unfolds. They emphasized the potential for such incidents to occur to any boat at any time, underscoring the need for caution in the Salish Sea.
The DFO has identified the deceased humpback whale discovered at Keats Island as BCY1464, also known as Wisp, and has initiated an active investigation into the matter. A spokesperson from the DFO labeled the incident as unfortunate and stated, “We are working to better understand what happened.” Erin Gless from the Pacific Whale Watch Association mentioned that BCY1464 Wisp was born in 2021 to the mother BCX1333 Ghost. Wisp and another whale identified as BCY1463 Malachite had spent a considerable period feeding in close proximity to the shore in Howe Sound earlier in the season.
The company involved in the whale-watching incident mentioned that they had not been actively viewing the whale at the time of the encounter. They described it as a surprise encounter when the whale surfaced unexpectedly, leading to minimal contact during the maneuver. Following the incident, B.C. Emergency Health Services provided emergency medical treatment to four individuals on Granville Island, who were later transported to the hospital in stable condition. Despite crew members witnessing the whale swim away after the strike, not all parts of the whale were visible to confirm any injuries at that time.
DFO had encountered a similar incident on October 17 when a high-speed ferry collided with a humpback whale near Vancouver in English Bay. The injured whale was confirmed to be the calf of BCX1193 Zig Zag, displaying a deep gash near its dorsal fin. The DFO highlighted vessel strikes as a significant threat to humpback whales, particularly as their numbers increase in coastal waters, leading to heightened interactions with human activities and vessel traffic.
