Rescuers try to save beached long fin pilot whales at Hamelin Bay (AFP)
Recently in Australia, over 400 beached whales have died. There are myriad theories as to why whales beach themselves – they are being chased by predators, their sonar is messed up due to geomagnetic factors (like on Lost) or submarine activity, they get stuck behind sand bars, or they follow injured or lost pod members into danger.
Also on the list of potential culprits – global warming, which scientists believe causes whales’ food sources to move closer to shore.
Since 1920, researchers have seen spikes in beachings that occur roughly in 12 year cycles, but they believe that as climate change continues, these oscillations will become more frequent and deadly for whales.
Recent Comments