What are some of the possible reasons for mass stranding of some species of whales and dolphins?
WHY DO WHALES AND DOLPHINS STRAND?
- Parasites.
- Biotoxins.
- Acoustic Testing (eg. sonar, air guns)
- Following Prey Ashore.
- Magnetic Field Anomolies.
- Geography.
- Social Bonds.
- Combination of Factors.
What is stranding for whales?
Cetacean stranding, commonly known as beaching, is a phenomenon in which whales and dolphins strand themselves on land, usually on a beach. Beached whales often die due to dehydration, collapsing under their own weight, or drowning when high tide covers the blowhole.
Why do orcas get stranded?
Often, they are so focused on hunting for rays (the main food for New Zealand orca) in the extremely shallow waters where rays are found, that they just make a mistake in judging how deep the water is and they get stuck!
How do you stop whales from stranding?
The use of beacons, sonar reflectors, nets, noise generating devices (including ‘pingers’, distress calls and orca sounds) and other creative solutions to help prevent whale strandings have been suggested and considered for many years.
Why do whales get barnacles?
In the case of barnacles and whales, only the barnacles benefit from attaching to the whales, but at no biological cost to the whale. This type of symbiotic relationship is known as commensalism. In this case, attaching to the whales gives the barnacles a stable place to live, a free ride, and access to plenty of food.
What does mass stranding mean?
When three or more animals strand together in time and place, it is called a mass stranding. Communal animals, such as small cetaceans like pilot whales are the most common species found stranded. Mass strandings may include one or several species.
What is a stranding?
The term stranding refers to an aquatic animal observed in an inappropriate location, for example, an offshore species found inshore. Most often, stranded animals are found on a beach or in shallow water. Observations as far back as Aristotle. (1910).
Can a beached whale be saved?
The good news is that some of these whales do survive. If you spot a beached whale, call the local authorities immediately. Do not attempt to approach the whale on your own—you never know when that powerful tail will decide to thrash, or if they might carry diseases. Let the trained professionals lead the rescue.
Can whale beaching be prevented?
It has been suggested that if some sort of human chain could be put between a sick whale and its pod, this would prevent the healthy whales beaching.
Should you remove barnacles from whales?
As barnacles do not seem to cause any lasting damage to whales, it is not necessary to remove them. The only situation in which they must be removed is if there are too many barnacles clinging to whales, which can cause skin irritation.