Dead whale found in Fuerteventura

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Copied from 'News from the Canary Islands':


Another beaked whale has been found on the beach of Tierra Dorada in Fuerteventura. This is the third whale that has been found dead on the coastline of the island in 2019.

A team of five veterinarians have been studying the body of this whale, and samples taken will then be analysed at a laboratory to reach a conclusion to explain the reasons for this death, which should take around one month.
Although this is an individual incident of a stranded whale, there is currently a systematic study of beaked whales that die, not only in Fuerteventura, but across all the Canary Islands.

[Emmi Smith]

If you Google "dead whales" , there seems to be a lot of this happening world wide.  Here's a story about some in Ireland last summer which is interesting:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world...85576.html

[Sam]

Could the reason be that more of them are passing close the islands? I know "half full glass person" but I constantly see articles about (slowly) growing population of (not only) whales around the globe:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07498-4

https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-07-14/h...recovering

Makes me think: there's hope after all

[Si Tie]

No one knows why they beach.  Sonar has been blamed.  Maybe the whale was injured even old age has been blamed.
Or maybe is died naturally and was washed ashore

[Gone Fishing]

Another article specifically referencing beaked whale deaths around Fuerte 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/0...GLvVFX7R3A

''A 2003 study in Nature on the possible link between sonar and whale deaths led to Spain banning such naval exercises around the Canary Islands in 2004.

“Up until then, the Canaries were a hot spot for this kind of ‘atypical’ strandings,” said Bernaldo de Quiros. “Since the moratorium, none have occurred.”

And many of us will be familiar with the Cuvier's beaked whale skeleton at El Cotillo

 http://www.islandconnections.eu/1000003/...ticle.html

Sad and fascinating at the same time.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

That's a bit worrying GF as the Spanish Navy were on manoeuvres around here not long ago, against the wishes of the island government.

[Si Tie]

Could it be the whale that was spotted a few weeks ago?   Not sure if they stay in one place or not?


https://fuerteventura.click/Thread-The-s...ight=whale

[Sam]

That's a bit worrying GF as the Spanish Navy were on manoeuvres around here not long ago, against the wishes of the island government.

The Pajara firing range will again host new military manoeuvrers next month, 14th March. The government is't happy about it, neither are we.      

[Sam]

Another dead whale found.

Courtesy of www.cabildofuer.es


Agents of the Ministry of Environment of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura moved today, Monday, to the area of La Punta de Jandía, in the municipality of Pájara, after receiving a call alerting about the appearance of a rorqual, 11.5 meters, stranded on the coast The animal will be necropsied to know the causes of his death.

The Cabildo of Fuerteventura reminds the public that in the event that a stranding is detected, notice is given through 112.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Coincidence that there have just been more military manoeuvres?
Whatever the cause, so sad, but everything has a lifespan and I just hope this one had reached it's natural end.