Whales are so cool. I’ve been a whale nut since I was a kid. Needless to say, Whalerider was one of my favorite films from last year.
This just breaks my heart…
cry
Damn!
Damn, damn, damn!
Nature has a heartbreaking way of making someone feel so powerless.
{Ineffectual pats on Equipoise’s shoulder}
I’m so sorry to hear about this. Being stranded like that is terrible.
in Australia
Sorry to post such depressing things without really adding much of my own comment. I’m not a very good Doper that way. It’s very depressing. They don’t know what causes beachings though there are a lot of theories, including climactic changes.
but who knows. I’m glad there are people studying these events. Maybe we’ll find out someday.
Thanks for the words and the pats Devil’s Grandmother and TwoTrouts, I appreciate it.
There are tons of theories, but usually marine mammals will strand because one or more members of the pod are sick. “Sick” almost always involves GI problems.
When they get too sick to keep afloat, they move closer and closer to shore until finally they are resting on shore because otherwise, they would drown. They’re too weak too swim.
The healthy members of the pod will end up on shore as well, stranded, because they would not leave their sick buddies. So many healthy animals will die because a few friends were too sick to swim. Not that I’ve been involved in such things for very long, but I’ve never seen healthy animals stranded, unless they were accompanied by sick friends. So the “navigational problems” theory doesn’t seem to hold as much water. They usually seem to be deliberate, though the consequences aren’t. Maybe they should think things through a little more thoroughly?
There are studies going on right now about US Naval vessels and some type of radar or sonar they’re using and how that effects the navigation of dolphinsl. From what I’ve read, it seems plausible. Someone’s even designed sone robotic dolphins that are released from a ship and seek out a pod. Then the robots somehow release a signal that prevents the sonar from screwing up the real dolphins. Crap, I need to read up on that one again. It’s pretty interesting.
On the other hand, it’s a fairly comprehensive refutation of the idea that they’re intelligent creatures: how many cows do you see running into the sea and drowning en masse? They don’t even taste as good as cows - tough as old boots, a horrible reddish-black colour, and a flavour strongly reminiscent of aged liver.
Perhaps they are just very empathic.
Or very depressed.
It has been proven in many areas that the excessive noises in the waters of the world are causing hearting and sonar problems with whales. It’s unfortunately that oil companies and military choose to ignore the findings when doing experimental explosions and drilling in areas which are frequented by whales.
I don’t know about oil companies, but the US Navy is cooperating and working on these issues - not completely ignoring them.
So the people who kill themselves (or simply stop caring for themselves) after loved ones die are not intelligent creatures?
I also find your comments about eating endangered animals to be highly inappropriate. We have a pit for that sort of thing, please take it there.
I thought he was kidding. Did I get anti-wooshed?
No, I think I just have no sense of humor today. I’m Sorry for snapping at you, Case.
I can speak Whale. NoooeeeOOOoooeeeOOOooo ProooeeeOOObleeeOOOm.
Disclaimer: I love whales and dolphins and I’m saddened that so many died so don’t bite my head off
I could not help but wonder …
if they left a note that read, “So long and thanks for all the fish.”