Carcasses can explode if left to decompose on land and should be towed back to sea ‘where they belong’, experts say
Researchers would probably carry out checks on the recently stranded animals, including necropsies to look at gut content, and assessing overall health indicators such as the thickness of their blubber layer, Meynecke said.
“We can learn more about their diet, their genetics, how similar these individuals were to the population that stranded before,” she says, referring to aCetaceans that die onshore after stranding should be towed out to the ocean, Meynecke said. “They should be returned to sea – that’s where they belong.”
But the logistics for larger whale species are far trickier than pilot whales, which weigh up to three tonnes. “[For a sperm whale] we’re looking at probably over 15 tonnes or more. Once they’re not in water any more, they become too heavy to drag with normal equipment,” Meynecke said.Burying whales should be avoided, he said. “Disposing of a sea animal on land is generally not a good idea.
“The humour of the entire situation suddenly gave way to a run for survival as huge chunks of whale blubber fell everywhere,” said a reporter in a now-viral TV story.
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