Gray whale spotted swimming up huge US river has died

NewsWorldAmericasGray whale spotted swimming up huge US river has diedA marine mammal research group suspects hunger may have driven the whale to new hunting groundsMark Thiessen Monday 06 April 2026 10:27 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"CF1:2952265To1","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/willapa-river-gray-whale-washington-b2952356.html","title":"Gray whale spotted swimming 20 miles up river has died"}}open image in gallery{"id":"trigger-autogallery-2088","index":0}The gray whale swimming in the Willapa River near Willapa Bay, WashingtonThe latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_Evening_Newsletter","regTitle":"Evening Headlines","subscriptionGroup":"us_evening_headlines","subscriptionGroupId":"4326e634-422a-4447-8e1e-604a937cd3b5","type":"daily_news","pathPrefix":["/us","/news/world/americas","/news/world/americas/crime"],"title":"The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday","mobileTitle":"Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/usEveningHeadlines1_1.png","label":"I would like to receive morning headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email","newsletterKey":"receiveEveningHeadlinesUSNews","regSourceSection":"Americas","regSourceMethod":"NSCs"},"isClimate":false}A juvenile grey whale, which had captivat...