100 Pilot whales & bottle nosed dolphins beached in Tassie

[Zoe83]

I saw it on the news last night..about 100 whales & dolphins were beached in Tasmania, it was awful to look at does anyone have a theory on why this happens? a mass suicide due to over population? bad currents? etc...

 

[Rick Murchison]

It happens from time to time... haven't heard of one that massive in my lifetime though.
One guarantee - pretty soon someone will try to blame it on LFA Sonar (even though it hasn't been used in years, and never near Tasmania).
Rick

 

[Scubakevdm]

I saw it on the news last night..about 100 whales & dolphins were beached in Tasmania, it was awful to look at does anyone have a theory on why this happens? a mass suicide due to over population? bad currents? etc...

It is caused by careless humans tossing or dropping Krispy Kreme doughnuts into the ocean. They get hold of one, and they're hooked. Before long they crave the freshly made still warm ones... at any cost. Very sad.

 

[Zoe83]

Haha, there is no Krispy Kreme in Tassie, only just started them up in NSW..I do like the hot ones though

 

[Zoe83]

Ok i just found the article on it, theyre saying it may be weather patterns, as 120 whales & dolphins were beached around same place & time last year...

http://afr.com/articles/2004/11/30/1101577456895.html

 

[fgray1]

I though the were smart??????

 

[archman]

I though the were smart??????

More like too smart. Their basic instinct for self-preservation frequently gets overriden by the learned desire to follow the pod leader.

Same thing happened with an aerobatic demonstration team once. Flight leader dove into the ground, and his whole wing went with him. Yuk.

 

[Scubakevdm]

More like too smart. Their basic instinct for self-preservation frequently gets overriden by the learned desire to follow the pod leader.

Same thing happened with an aerobatic demonstration team once. Flight leader dove into the ground, and his whole wing went with him. Yuk.

Was there a Krispy Kreme in the vicinity?

 

[Azza]

70 or so pilot whales beached themselves near Whangamata, New Zealand on Monday as well. Thats a fair few whales beaching themselves in a short space. Apparently when they are sick the head to shore and all the others try to help so they head inshore as well.

 

[Scubaroo]

There's a very good thread on DiveOz at the moment from a researcher with some valid sounding explanations for these beachings.