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Sperm Whales - East Coast (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter MarkHows
- Start date
snlw
Simon
I went along to see the whales. A sad sight to see 3 of these magnificent animals dead on the beach but also very interesting to see them at such close quarters. The scarring on them was amazing. To also see the whole animal makes you appreciate their sheer size even more. An interesting afternoon.
The question has to be why have so many Sperm Whales died in the N Sea recently? 6 in Germany, 6 in Holland & now 4 of the 6 spotted in the Wash!
The question has to be why have so many Sperm Whales died in the N Sea recently? 6 in Germany, 6 in Holland & now 4 of the 6 spotted in the Wash!
Yes its very sad to see or hear about such wonderful creatures as these sperm whales meeting their fate on the Coastlines, what draws them to do so in the first place, historically and I,ve not tried looking up when such Records first started to monitor such events but if its been over hundreds of years, then I would,nt put it down to Man made reasons like sonar etc it might not help these days, but the real reason might probabily be a natural one, Either way not good news for the whales, in my mind thou it would be even sadder to think that anything Manmade had a part to play in this, the poor whale has had to pay a price with man over the last century and before and still is doing under the Japanese. Haveing just read the link I see on this occasion the two whales together in lincolnshire Were said to have washed up dead with the one in norfolk still alive for a while sorry for the Misunderstanding there.
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I went to see one washed up in the Wash in 2003 (nr the Norfolk/ Lincs border). It was pronounced dead while I was there. It was some way off and I was watching through a 'scope. A few months later I stumbled on what could have been the same animal as a decomposing corpse on the beach near Holme.
Very sad. Lucky enough to have seen a live one in Oban a couple of years back (as well as the Kaikoura, NZ ones). That one didn't beach but presumably swam out to sea after a few days.
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Its the season for it, late Autumn/Winter the last several years seems to yield dead Sperm Whales in the North Sea. One even made the English Channel and ended up on an "Inside Nature's Giants" documentary.
I think the BBC news website reported analysis that Sperm Whales' sonar can't cope with the shallow seas and sandy bottoms, and the increased strandings are a sign of the increased whale numbers, is as likely to be right as anything.
It does however raise the question of why Sperm Whales can't cope when Humpbacks deliberately come in and out of shallow waters on a regular basis (seemingly involving returning individuals e.g. the East Norfolk repeater). There's a research topic that should be worthwhile: differences in cetacean sonar characteristics and interpretive abilities.
John
dantheman
Bah humbug
Sad indeed.
But perhaps these kind of strandings were commoner in the past and these events are indeed indicative of a healthier population of some whales out there (although bit surprised that Sperm Whales would have recovered this much?).
Interestingly (and haven't checked up), but believe that a couple of hundred years back Californian Condors were common all up the western seaboard of the USA to Washington State even - feeding on the carcases of stranded whales, so maybe a common event under previous conditions (ie before whaling)
But perhaps these kind of strandings were commoner in the past and these events are indeed indicative of a healthier population of some whales out there (although bit surprised that Sperm Whales would have recovered this much?).
Interestingly (and haven't checked up), but believe that a couple of hundred years back Californian Condors were common all up the western seaboard of the USA to Washington State even - feeding on the carcases of stranded whales, so maybe a common event under previous conditions (ie before whaling)
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Looks more like the work of the loony left to me. Political statements based on no evidence or science whatever.
John
Brumfield5026
Active member
Sad
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Any autopsy reports from any of them yet?
Essex Baker Boy
Well-known member
Sadly, another Sperm Whale has been reported this morning moribund at Hunstanton
