Mystery death of fifth humpback whale in Pacific north-west sparks alarm

Spike, a beloved marine animal known to scientists since 2018, was found washed ashore near Vancouver Island

The nearly 32ft hulking frame of a male humpback whale was found splayed on sands near California's Fort Bragg on Saturday - the fourth whale to wash ashore along the coasts of Mendocino this year.

A day later, a young female humpback would also be found dead far north near Vancouver Island. She was known to scientists as Spike", after being first documented in 2018.