ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An endangered fin whale has washed ashore near a coastal pathway in Alaska’s most populated city, drawing the attention of locals while scientists investigate the reasons behind its demise.

The whale, discovered over the weekend in Anchorage, measured approximately 47 feet (14.3 meters) in length, roughly equivalent to the breadth of a college basketball court. It is presumed to be a female, and Barbara Mahoney, a biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), indicated that it was likely between 1 to 3 years old.

According to NOAA Fisheries, fin whales rank as the second-largest species of whale, with adult specimens reaching lengths of up to 85 feet (25.9 meters) and weights that can range from 40 tons to 80 tons. These majestic creatures face numerous threats, including ship strikes, entanglement in fishing equipment, underwater noise pollution, and the impacts of climate change.

Mandy Keogh, a NOAA coordinator specializing in marine mammal strandings, noted that sightings of fin whales are relatively rare near Anchorage. She suggested that recent high tides might have propelled the whale further into the Knik Arm.

Curious onlookers made their way across the mudflats to glimpse the whale, which NOAA scientists and personnel from Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services had secured to the shore on Sunday for sampling purposes. However, determining the cause of death may prove challenging, as decomposition and the absence of visible injuries complicate the analysis, as Keogh explained.

Daisy Grandlinard visited the whale on Monday with her children. She recounted the moment they approached the carcass, noting the strong odor it emitted. “It was really interesting for the kids to feel and touch the whale, noting the track-like patterns on its body, almost like a sled. Witnessing its sheer size was impressive,” she remarked. “We had covered whales a few weeks earlier, so it was exciting to see one up close and be able to point out features like baleen and ask, ‘Where is the blowhole?’”

Biologists anticipated completing their work by Tuesday, with plans to untie the carcass and allow the tide to carry it away. “What happens next is uncertain,” Mahoney stated. “We will wait to see what the tide will do.”