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Mass Whale Strandings
Context:
Australian authorities announced the euthanasia of 90 false killer whales that survived a mass stranding on a remote beach in Tasmania.
More on News
- The decision was made as saving them was deemed impossible due to complex conditions.
- Total affected pod: 157 whales stranded near Arthur River, north-west Tasmania.
What is Whale Stranding?
- Definition: A phenomenon where whales, dolphins, or porpoises get stuck on land, usually on a beach.
- Types:
- Single strandings: Involving individual animals.
- Mass strandings: Groups of hundreds of marine animals stranded together.
- Historical Perspective:
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- Occurred since Aristotle’s time.
- Once considered a gift from the gods as stranded whales and dolphins provided food and oil.
Why Do Whales Strand?
- The exact reasons remain unclear, but experts identify several contributing factors:
- Topography of the region: Certain areas experience frequent strandings due to tidal variations making deep waters suddenly shallow.
- Illness or injury: Diseased or weak whales may struggle to navigate.
- Human activities: Increased ocean noise, pollution, and climate change.
Hotspots for Mass Strandings
- Tasmania, Australia
- Golden Bay, New Zealand
- Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
- These areas see frequent strandings, possibly due to rapid depth changes in surrounding waters.
Human Activities and Whale Strandings
- Increasing frequency: Human interference may be worsening strandings.
- Key human-induced factors:
- Noise pollution:
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- Large commercial ships, military sonar, offshore drilling.
- Disrupts whales’ ability to communicate, navigate, and detect predators.
- Loud noises can deafen, disorient, or scare whales, driving them ashore.
- Climate Change & Ocean Temperature Rise:
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- Affects prey and predator distribution, forcing whales to move closer to shore.
- Whales follow their food sources, which may now be in riskier coastal areas.
Can Mass Strandings Be Prevented?
- Difficult to prevent entirely due to multiple causes.
- Possible mitigation measures:
- Reduce ocean noise pollution by regulating shipping, drilling, and sonar use.
- Monitor environmental changes to understand whale movements.
- Raise awareness and take greater care in human activities affecting marine ecosystems.
