Whale found dead on cruise ship bow

The 2,670-passenger ship Sapphire Princess docked in Vancouver with the rare fin whale, a threatened species in Canada, still stuck to its hull.

It is unclear whether the 70 foot (21 meter) whale was killed by the ship or whether the vessel collided with its carcass during a cruise through waters noted for their abundance of wildlife.

Fin whales - the second largest living animal, after the blue whale - flourished around the world before heavy commercial whaling in the mid-twentieth century depleted their population to current levels of around 30,000.

The cruise ship was ending a week-long journey sailing from Alaska to Vancouver along the scenic Inside Passage.

Princess Cruises said in a statement: “We were shocked and saddened by this discovery, and sincerely regret the circumstances which led to the whale’s death.