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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Dead Whale Found Stuck on Cruise Ship

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(Newser) – Researchers want to know what killed a rare whale found lodged on the bow of an Alaskan cruise ship docked in Vancouver. It took two tug boats to remove the impaled 70-ton middle-aged fin whale from the Sapphire Princess' bow, reports the Vancouver Sun. Tourists gathered to watch the gruesome spectacle.

A necropsy on the fin whale, a threatened species, will likely determine the cause of death. “We don't know a lot about fin whales. They’re called the greyhounds of the sea because they’re quick,” said a marine mammal expert. A burial at sea is planned.

A diver secures ropes around the carcass of a whale lodged at the bow of a Princess Cruise Lines ship.
A diver secures ropes around the carcass of a whale lodged at the bow of a Princess Cruise Lines ship.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
The carcass of a whale, lower left, sits lodged at the bow of a cruise ship after docking in Vancouver, BC. The whale was discovered when the ship docked in Vancouver after traveling from Alaska.
The carcass of a whale, lower left, sits lodged at the bow of a cruise ship after docking in Vancouver, BC. The whale was discovered when the ship docked in Vancouver after traveling from Alaska.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials look at the carcass of a whale lodged at the bow of a Princess Cruise Lines ship after docking in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday July 25, 2009. The whale was discovered after the ship docked in Vancouver after traveling from Alaska.
Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials look at the carcass of a whale lodged at the bow of a Princess Cruise Lines ship after docking in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday July 25, 2009. The whale was...   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
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It is unknown how or when this could have happened, as we have strict whale avoidance procedures in place when our ships are in the vicinity of marine life. - Statement from Princess Cruises

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14 comments
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anchower
Jul 27, 09 3:16 AM CDT
Terrible. Reply
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+3
Reader78245944
Jul 27, 09 5:47 AM CDT
shot by Palin? Reply
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
DJM420
Jul 27, 09 7:09 AM CDT
probably...although she'd be out there bragging about it
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
Mia
Jul 27, 09 7:23 AM CDT
<3
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+2
riffran
Jul 27, 09 7:13 AM CDT
Nope. Taken out by Hillary. Too much competition for food. she merely speeched it to death Reply
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-7

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