Whale dies in river

A female Pacific gray whale which entered Northern California's Klamath River for unknown reasons, has died after beaching itself twice on a sand bar. It was in the river for 53 days.

The 45 foot whale arrived with her calf but the youngster returned to the ocean a month later but strangely, the mother stayed in the river, despite being coaxed out. Scientists will conduct a necropsy to hopefully find the reasons why the Pacific gray whale died as based on the photos and other factors, her fat layer looked good, so it's not thought she starved to death. Samples will be taken from tissue and abnormalities found on the carcass and tested for infectious diseases, the reason for the whale and her calf's detour into the river also remains unclear but in the days preceding their entrance, the whales were with other mothers and calves near the mouth, a popular feeding place for whales in May.