Giant whale carcass washes up on Alaska beach

A giant fin whale that washed ashore near a coastal trail in Alaska's largest city has drawn curiosity from many, as biologists scramble to figure out what caused its death.

According to biologists from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the whale carcass found near Anchorage was 14.3m long, equivalent to the width of a college basketball court.

Giant fin whale carcass washes up on Alaska beach.

Barbara Mahoney, a NOAA biologist who is examining the whale, said it is a female, possibly between 1 and 3 years old.

Fin whales are the second largest whale species and are endangered, according to NOAA. As adults, fin whales can grow up to 80 feet long and weigh between 40 and 80 tons. Ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, underwater noise, and the effects of climate change are among the threats fin whales face, according to the agency.

Fin whales are not typically seen this close to Anchorage, and recent high tides may have pushed the animals further inland, said Mandy Keogh, NOAA's marine mammal stranding rescue coordinator.

Even after the samples are analyzed, however, it may still be difficult to determine the cause of death. Biologists hope to complete the whale's necropsy soon, untether the carcass and let the tides push or carry it away.