The fin whale saga at Little Dume beach seems to finally be over. A local homeowners association paid a private company to tow a 40,000-pound fin whale carcass out to sea from Little Dume on Saturday evening, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The whale carcass had been at Little Dume since last Sunday evening, garnering nationwide media attention and hundreds of spectators. Officials believe the whale died after being struck by a boat.
A privately owned tugboat pulled the badly decomposed carcass approximately 20 miles out to sea, Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Brian Riley told the Times. Riley said the remains should not wash up again because of how far the carcass was removed.
Local homeowners apparently grew tired of the stench the 40-foot remains gave off as it rapidly decomposed for nearly a week on the secluded shore.
State and local officials spent several days going back and forth over who was responsible for disposing of the whale. Many also feared that any attempt to tow the whale would cause it to break apart because of its level of decomposition.
No clear-cut solution was presented by the government agencies and it seems residents decided to take the matter into their own hands.
During its time at Little Dume, the fin whale inspired many spectators to make the trek to the secluded spot, including members of the Pechanga Tribe who paid their respects and harvested parts of the carcass on Friday.