Pictured: Giant blue whale washed onto beach

[Still Waters]

This the tragic sight of the largest mammal in the world - a majestic blue whale - washed ashore after being struck and killed by a passing ship.

The 70-foot female was found on the Northern California coast on Monday night with two gashes on her back - one that was eight feet long.

She was spotted on the shore near Fort Bragg in Mendocino County hours after an ocean survey vessel reported hitting a whale a few miles away, said Joe Cordaro, a wildlife biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's marine fisheries service.

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[MaggieDruydess]

how sad.

[Princess Serenity]

That's a big whale! (To me at least.)

Poor guy. *Hugs*

[xYlvax]

so tragic

[Malakthrin]

What a beautiful animal, shame that it was killed. I wonder what the people on the boat thought they hit

[cluey]

wow.......what a awesome sight...........terribly sad it was injured and died..........a very awe inspiring picture.........makes us humans seem so insignificant in comparison

[devilmaycare]

Boat should have sunk with all aboard IMO

[Princess Serenity]

wow.......what a awesome sight...........terribly sad it was injured and died..........a very awe inspiring picture.........makes us humans seem so insignificant in comparison

You mean size wise? Then yeah I agree with you.

o.o;

[Ginger]

Boat should have sunk with all aboard IMO

I hope you mean that they were lucky it didn't sink. Not that you hope that boat sunk and killed everyone.

[Particle Noun]

Fort Bragg California is my home town. A bunch of people I know have gone and visited that body, which is on the rocky beach off of a botanical gardens.