Whale Stranding

Recently, Australia has witnessed multiple incidents of whale strandings, including a significant event in Tasmania where numerous false killer whales were found beached.

• About Whale Stranding: It is also known as beaching, occurs when whales are found ashore, typically on beaches.

• Species Affected: While it primarily involves whales, other marine animals like dolphins and porpoises can also experience stranding events.
• Types:

o Single Strandings: Involve an individual whale.

o Mass Strandings: Involve groups of whales, often from species with strong social bonds.

• Causes:

o Natural Factors: Navigational errors, extreme weather conditions, and illness.

o Human-Induced Factors: Pollution, ship collisions, and underwater noise pollution.

• Recent Incidents: In Tasmania, Australia, authorities began euthanizing around 90 false killer whales that survived a mass stranding on a remote beach.

o In New Zealand, approximately 477 pilot whales died after stranding themselves on two remote beaches.