Researchers observe an unusually high number of whale strandings in the United States. This year 12 animals have already been washed up on the west coast of the country.
San Francisco – A whale washed ashore on California’s Pacifica State Beach at the end of April. It is the twelfth whale in total to be spotted on the beach in the Bay Area this year, according to US authorities.
Researchers are very concerned about the buildup on whale beachings. So far this year ten gray whales, a pygmy sperm whale and a fin whale have been discovered dead on the coast of the San Francisco Bay Are. Whale strandings occur frequently (* FNP reported) worldwide.
The California Academy of Sciences took tissue samples from the recently washed up whale and was able to confirm that it was a male approximately 14 meters long. According to the San Francisco Chronicle ( SFC ), the authorities did not want to conduct an autopsy on the dead whale because the animal was already in an advanced stage of the decomposition process.
Whale strandings: animals endangered by humans
“Over the past few years, our experts have observed that gray whales are more frequent, longer and in greater numbers on San Francisco Bay,” Kathi George from the Marine Mammal Center told the SFC .
The whales are endangered by humans. Past autopsies have shown that two of the whales found dead this year had crashed into ships. Malnutrition and fishing nets are also possible causes of death.
Researchers observe the increased death of the whales with great concern. Since 2019, the US authorities have seen a significant increase in emaciated or injured gray whales that have washed up on the beaches of the west coast. According to the ocean and climate agency NOAA, around 70 gray whales were washed up on the coasts of the US states of California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska between January and May 2019.
This is the highest number since 2000. NOAA described this ongoing condition as an “Unusual Death Event”. Why these frequent whale strandings occur is to be investigated. * FNP is an offer from IPPEN.Media.
