78-ft Long Blue Whale Washed Up in Oregon

The 78-foot long body of a blue whale has been washed up near southern Oregon's Gold Beach, reported by Daily Mail on Monday.

The emaciated whale, which had been dead for about two weeks, has a less than 4-inch blubber layer, whereas a healthy blue whale often has 12-inch. Even so, it still weighed more than 100 tons.

Scientists believe that the whale may have been weakened by this year's El Nino, which is predicted to be the strongest on record. Oceanic warming has cast devastating effects on krill, the main source of food for blue whales.

Orca and shark bites were also found on the body. Experts believe they may have attacked the whale in its weakened state.

The body is a rare find for researchers who are now working to cut and peel back the layers of blubber to harvest the skeleton. Globally, there are as few as 5,000 blue whales left and they are designated as critically endangered by Canada's Species At Risk Act.