A gray whale found on a remote beach in southwest Whidbey Island, Washington recently likely died of starvation, local whale experts say. The exact location of the whale remains confidential so people won’t be tempted to take whale parts as souvenirs, which is a violation of federal law.

The animal was significantly underweight and a necropsy is to be performed in an effort to determine the cause of death. The size of the whale was measured, the thickness of its blubber, contents of its stomach was examined and tissue samples collected from internal organs to search for parasites, pollutants or underlying diseases. Researchers who examined the whale found no food in its stomach or intestines and there is the possilbity the whale most likely didn’t get enough food last summer in the Bering Sea before migrating to water off Mexico to breed, sadly it was probably on its way back up from Mexico and didn’t have the strength to complete the journey. Many whales at this time of year simply don't make it, with 10 of those washing up on Whidbey Island beaches.

Cause of death won’t be known until the pathology report is complete, which is expected to take several months.