Source: IE

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

• A recent incident occurred in Tasmania, Australia, where about 90 false killer whales from a group of 157 whales were stranded on a remote beach near Arthur River.
• The authorities decided to euthanize the surviving whales due to complex conditions.
• This highlights the issue of whale strandings and the factors behind them.

What is Whale Stranding?

• Whale stranding occurs when whales, dolphins or other marine animals become stranded on land, usually on a beach.
• While most cases involve a single animal, sometimes several animals become stranded together en masse.
• Mass Strandings: These large-scale strandings have been happening for centuries.

Why Do Whale Strandings Happen?

The exact reasons for whale strandings are not fully understood, but several factors may contribute:

●       Regions where the sea becomes shallow quickly, especially during tidal changes, are more likely to experience strandings.

●       Sick or injured whales may become confused and end up stranded. A disease or injury can cause them to travel in unusual ways or prevent them from navigating properly.

●       Human actions in the ocean, such as noise from ships or offshore drilling, can disturb whales. This has been identified as one of the possible reasons behind whale strandings.

●       Ships, military sonar, and drilling create loud sounds that affect how whales communicate and navigate.

●       These sounds may confuse or frighten them, causing them to swim toward shore.

Key Locations for Strandings

• Tasmania (Australia): This area has a history of whale strandings due to its coastal geography.
• Golden Bay (New Zealand): Known for strandings, possibly due to its shallow waters.
• Cape Cod (USA): Its narrow coastline often traps marine animals.

Source: IE