Dead whale washes ashore at La Jolla Shores

LA JOLLA, Calif. (KGTV) – A deceased whale washed ashore at La Jolla Shores on Wednesday, according to City of San Diego officials.

City officials confirmed the carcass of an 18-foot whale was spotted north of the boat launch, near the La Jolla Shores Hotel, at around 5:45 p.m.

The carcass was described by city officials as “heavily decomposed.”

Officials told ABC 10News that a team of scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was notified to examine the whale.

Late Thursday morning, a NOAA official confirmed to ABC 10News that their team obtained a tissue sample, but the species and other details on the animal were not confirmed.

The carcass was removed from the beach and taken to a landfill, the NOAA official said.