Aug 20, 2013 3:20 PM

Gallery: Unusual Whale Stranding Gives Scientists Rare Opportunity

01
dead-whale
*Photo: Alex Washburn/WIRED*
02
necropsy-2
*The first steps include removing much of the whale's blubber. (Photo: Nadia Drake/WIRED)*

03
cutting
*Slicing into the blubber. Below, onlookers watch the necropsy while a sea gull sneaks in for a bite of discarded flesh.* [![](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2013/08/IMG_2973.jpg "IMG_2973")](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2013/08/IMG_2973.jpg) (*Photos: Nadia Drake/WIRED*)
04
removing
*The team used large hooks to separate the blubber from the whale, a process that involved some intense physical activity. (Photo: Nadia Drake/WIRED)*

05
stomach
*Collecting fluid from the stomach. (Photo: Nadia Drake/WIRED)*
06
bags
*The team gets ready to bag bits of kidney. (Photo: Nadia Drake/WIRED)*

07
kidney
*Collecting part of the kidney, which looks like a pebbled structure. (Photo: Nadia Drake/WIRED)*
08
struggles
*At one point, the excavator nearly tipped over while trying to drag the whale farther up the beach. Rolling the carcass worked much better. (Photo: Nadia Drake/WIRED)*

09
eye
*Scientists collected both eyes from the whale. Here's the right one. Below, a seagull stands near the spot where the whale's left eye used to be.* [![](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2013/08/IMG_2949.jpg "IMG_2949")](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2013/08/IMG_2949.jpg) (*Photos: Nadia Drake/WIRED*)
10
esophagus
*Yes, you could fit inside a whale's mouth. (Photo: Nadia Drake/WIRED)*

11
last-light
*Scientists get ready to roll the whale toward its grave.*
12
rolling-the-whale
*After rolling the whale, scientists needed the excavator's help teasing the intestines from the carcass. (Photo: Nadia Drake/WIRED)*

13
a-last-look
*After rolling it up the beach, and before burying the whale, researchers climbed into the animal's thorax, looking for any clues they might have missed. (Photo: Nadia Drake/WIRED)*
14
burial
*The whale is pushed into its sandy grave. (Photo: Nadia Drake/WIRED)*

Breathe Easy Thanks to the Best Air Purifier for Every Home

Protect your home against dust, pets, allergies, and more with the best air purifiers, tested firsthand.

Molly Higgins

The Best Duffel Bags for Commuters and Chronic Overpackers

Need to schlep some stuff? These field-tested duffels can handle your baggage.

Louryn Strampe

The WIRED Guide to Los Angeles for Business Travelers

A tech industry guide to where to stay, eat, work, and play while visiting LA.

Jordan Michelman

The Best Travel Toiletry Bags for Every Trip

Our team evaluated a ton of toiletry bags to find the best storage, organization, and design options for all your essentials.

Kat Merck

Quell the Heat With Our Favorite Window Air Conditioners

These are the AC units we’ve trusted to cool our homes for months, if not years.

Matthew Korfhage

The Best Wireless Chargers to Refuel Your Phone (or Watch)

Stop fumbling for cables in the dark. These WIRED-tested stands and pads will take the hassle out of refueling your phone, wireless earbuds, and watch.

Simon Hill