2 Dead Whales Found Under Australian Ship At Naval Base San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA — Two whales were found dead on the hull of an Australian naval ship at Naval Base San Diego.

The endangered fin whales were discovered when the HMAS Sydney berthed over the weekend at the naval base.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the larger carcass was a 65-foot-long adult female and the smaller 25-foot-long carcass was likely a calf, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It was unknown where the ship struck the whales.

"The U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Navy are cooperating with the NOAA Fisheries and other agencies to review the incident," Australia's Department of Defense said in a statement. "The Navy takes marine mammal safety seriously and is disheartened this incident occurred."

The fin whale is the second-largest species on Earth after the blue whale. The species was listed as endangered in 1970 after being heavily hunted in the 1800s and early 1900s.