great death rate pilot whales This event, which has taken place in the South Pacific in recent weeks, has attracted the attention of scientists. About More than 700 cetacean species have died this month, stranded in separate incidents off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand. No satisfactory explanation has yet been found.
A few days ago, New Zealand authorities confirmed The deaths of 477 pilot whales stranded off the coast of two islands in the South Pacific. Specifically, another 245 specimens ran aground off the coast of Tupuangi on October 7 and in Waihere Bay on October 10. These two coastlines are in the Chatham Islands, about 800 kilometers from the country’s main island.
The episode has been hailed as one of the worst environmental disasters in New Zealand because while these cases are not uncommon, there are large numbers of dead specimens.
The vast majority of whales died in the sand, and the few that survived were left there and euthanized. Given their frail condition, returning them to the sea as they will become prey to sharks is considered a futile act, according to a statement from the country’s environmental authorities.
“Due to the danger of shark attacks on both humans and whales, we did not refloat the whales in the Chatham Islands, so euthanasia was the most appropriate option,” the statement said.
NGO Project Jonah explained to the Associated Press that marine mammal stranding is one of the most widespread environmental disasters in New Zealand. Again, Typically, these major events result in the deaths of 70 or 80 whales on average, but not a few hundred. as in these weeks.
However, there have also been more extreme cases, such as the case where around 1,000 pilot whales were stranded on the same beaches in 1918.
The events in New Zealand came two weeks after more than 200 pilot whales were stranded on a remote Tasmanian coast. in the south of Australia.
Why is this happening?
The reasons are still not understood. scientists, perhaps location systems are hampered by the presence of gently sloping beaches.
Daren Grover, spokesperson for the aforementioned NGO, raised the possibility that since food is plentiful for these whales around the Chatham Islands, these animals must swim close to shore to obtain this food. The problem is that whales go from swimming in very deep water to very little depth, and that’s in a very short time, so they seem terribly surprised by the solid ground on their bellies. That way, they’re stuck there with no chance of returning due to their enormous weight.
Despite the advanced echolocation system, this apparently isn’t enough to warn cetaceans that the bottom is approaching them. “They’re getting closer to shore and they’re getting confused. The tide can then go out and they can be stranded on the beach before they know it,” he adds.
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