Record Whale Die-Off Near Argentina Coast
April 3rd, 2010 - 8:19 pm ICT by GDBy Gina Gomez
Argentina, Apr 3, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Whales are dying in large numbers, making experts and researchers over the world consider the matter seriously. It is interesting to note that almost 90% of the whales dead during recent times are infant or baby whales. Close to 308 3-month old whale calves were found dead near Argentina’s Patagonian Coast since 2005.
The IWC or International Whale Committee convened a meeting this month to look into the issue. Up to now, no satisfactory clue has been found regarding the mass deaths. It is said that baby whales have low rates of survival. But the recent number of deaths in Argentina is indeed unique. Even a few days before, whale population range was around 60,000 or more. This is dwindling fast, the chief reason being a thin layer of blubber covering the bodies of infant whales. Attacks by killer whales also account for the large number of deaths.
Pollution is on the rise not only in air but also in water. Diseases, harmful toxins released by algae present in water, and environmental pollution lead to premature deaths among baby whales. The IWC also noted that there has been a lack of prey in the feeding grounds of whales. Thus a plausible cause of death may be lack of food. These reasons are yet to be released officially though, and will be published in the month of June.
The largest whale die off was seen in 1999-2000 in the Eastern pacific region, with around 250 gray whales found in Alaska and Mexico. Whales in Australia and South Africa have escaped the mass death incident. So we see that there is still hope.
- Record whale die off baffles experts - Mar 30, 2010
- Mystifying Whale Die-Off Is Biggest On Record - Apr 03, 2010
- Record Whale Calves Die-off Alarms Scientists - Mar 30, 2010
- Record whale die-off puzzle experts no end - Mar 31, 2010
- Thousands of fish found dead near Los Angeles - Apr 20, 2011
- Oil poisoning? Alarming sea animal deaths on India's west coast (With Images) - Apr 07, 2012
- Mystery over millions of dead fish in US harbour - Mar 09, 2011
- Seven more crib deaths in West Bengal - Jan 19, 2012
- 10 infants die in Andhra hospital - Sep 02, 2011
- 100 crib deaths in Bengal since Jan 1 (Lead) - Jan 27, 2012
- Bengal reports more crib deaths, seven dead in 24 hours - Jan 18, 2012
- Bengal hospital says 12 crib deaths 'normal' - Oct 27, 2011
- Whale found dead 800 metres from shoreline - Sep 29, 2011
- Former president Kirchner's death stuns Argentina - Oct 28, 2010
- Huge Recall of Baby Video Monitors Linked to Two Deaths - Feb 12, 2011
Tags: baby whales, blubber, cause of death, chief reason, environmental pollution, gina gomez, gray whales, harmful toxins, iwc, killer whales, large numbers, mass death, mass deaths, month of june, patagonian coast, plausible cause, premature deaths, thin layer, whale calves, whale population