Falklands reports grounding of a pod of 400 pilot whales
A record grounding of an estimated 400 pilot whales was reported this week in the Falkland Islands.
The pod of whales apparently died after becoming stranded on the uninhabited Speedwell island to the south west of East Falkland and were discovered by Christopher May a local sheep farmer.
Chris May told Mercopress he discovered the stranded whales around 12 March when he visited his sheep farm on Speedwell Island to the south of East Falklands.
He estimated that they had been dead for around 10 days, when he discovered the unaccountable incident which scientists have long attempted to diagnose.
He twice counted the whales and reached 400 each time.
Chris May said that unusually many of them were 'floating' dead in the water.
The larges of the whales were between 20-25 feet and the smallest around 5 feet in length.
There are now thousands of giant petrels enjoying the unexpected feast and it will provide food for them for several months.
Chris May also said that as the whales are beginning to decompose the smell is becoming unbearable.
A team from Falklands Conservation was scheduled to visit the island to gather information and make a report on the situation.
Speedwell Island has an area of 51.1 square kilometres and is about 17.5 kilometres long from north to south and 5 km wide at its central part.
It is generally low lying and has been used as a sheep farm for more than a hundred years. It is separated from Lafonia (East Falklands) by the Eagle Passage, which takes its name from Speedwell Island's old name.
The island is the largest of the Speedwell Island group, which includes George Island, Barren Island and Annie Island.
Suggested Stories
-
May 24th 2012
Falklands’ lawmaker accuses Argentina of “indiscriminate and uncontrolled” fishing
-
May 23rd 2012
Falklands’ economy “booming” in spite of Argentina’s efforts of a blockade
-
May 23rd 2012
Falkland Oil & Gas expects farm-in deal with “a listed independent” firm
-
May 25th 2012
Falklands’ expects 20% boost in UK visitors because of the war’s 30th anniversary
22 comments Feed
Note: Comments do not reflect MercoPress’ opinions. They are the personal view of our users. We wish to keep this as open and unregulated as possible. However, rude or foul language, discriminative comments (based on ethnicity, religion, gender, nationality, sexual orientation or the sort), spamming or any other offensive or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated. Please report any inadequate posts to the editor. Comments must be in English. Thank you.
I can't wait for that report.
This time the numbers are up on the last one here a few years ago whicwas 30-40 I recall, but there have been others of hundreds like this as well- even 1oo plus years ago.. So NO evil cause.
1. HMS Scott , February 24, 2011: Patrolling duties in South Georgia, South Sandwich and South Shetland Islands (not far from stranding site), deep water survey work, mapping the Antarctic Seas. “The vessel’s sonar is capable of surveying the deepest oceans in continuous lines of up to 400 miles in length....The full ship’s crew is 78; however, the crew rotation system means 52 are onboard at any one time during a standard 35-day operational cycle and the remainder of the crew take leave. By operating in this way the ship can be at sea for 307 days a year.” (en.mercopress.com/2011/02/24/hms-scott-on-ice-patrol-and-antarctic-sea-deep-water-survey-mapping)
2. HMS York scheduled to arrive to Falklands mid-March. Marine security patrols. The ship has brand new Sea Dart missile system. Not clear if they tested it near Falklands. The tour ends in July. (en.mercopress.com/2011/02/23/refurbished-hms-york-scheduled-to-arrive-in-the-falklands-mid-march)
3. US Navy ship with Scripps Institution of Oceanography researchers. Departed from Cape Town February 20 and have been using powerful “sonar to create detailed maps of the ocean floor from South Africa to Chile....As of March 7 the Melville had crossed the South Atlantic and was heading past the Falkland Islands.”
(www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/03/10/US-researchers-using-sound-to-map-ocean/UPI-14231299809608/)
The problem is that it is very hard to pinpoint who or what was responsible for this enormous stranding. It could be just one factor, or a combination of factors including either all man-made factors or all natural factors or a combination of both. But 2 vessels with very powerful sonar on board and one with new missiles system sure do not look that harmless. We feel that this situation needs to be investigated further. The major problem with this
HMS Scott was very far away from the Falklands.
Anybody cares to investigate the obvious???
British Seismic Oil Surveying in Malvinas during January 2004
www.desireplc.co.uk/investor_relations_announcements.php?article_id=5
And then…… This happens:
MASS PILOT WHALE STRANDING:
FRIDAY, 23 JANUARY 2004
There has been another mass Pilot Whale stranding just past Elephant Beach. Around 110 Whales beached this time and the carcasses werent found until recently, which meant that by the time they were spotted, their bodies were around three to four weeks old. I spoke to Sasha Arkipkin, who went to the stranding site to tell us more.
www.falklandnews.com/public/story.cfm?get=2591&source=2
British Seismic Oil Surveying in Malvinas during March 2011
en.mercopress.com/2011/03/14/falklands-oil-company-announces-further-drilling-and-seismic-surveying
And then…………………… This happens:
Saturday, March 19th 2011 - 22:54 UTC
Falklands reports grounding of a pod of 400 pilot whales
A record grounding of an estimated 400 pilot whales was reported this week in the Falkland Islands.
en.mercopress.com/2011/03/19/falklands-reports-grounding-of-a-pod-of-400-pilot-whales
A perfectly good Ozzie parody about the problem……. Maybe “Malvinas Conservation” can recycle it:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W77IqQW9xzU&playnext=1&list=PL9A48799C81AC96B1
There was a big stranding at East Bay in August '03. Why don't you find out what was going on then in the seismic world?
I brought a bleached pilot whale skull home just a week ago.I think it had been there for quite a long time. Probably since the very first seismic survey in 1833 in fact.
Any idea what causes mass strandings in Argentina? Or do you have a different kind of seismic survey there? Or perhaps your strandings are caused by something else entirely.
It's a mysterious world. Perhaps all the whales that are susceptible to seismic surveys flock to the Falklands and hurl themselves on beaches just when a survey is about to happen. They could even be Argie whales doing it on purpose to make us look bad.
The Year 1902 picture you refer as a mass standing on Wikipedia was actually a school of Pilot Whales driven ashore intentionally by the inhabitants of Cape Cod.
capecodhistory.us/19th/whaling%20and%20fishing.html
An old whaling tradition that was common in the Falklands too.
Ask some of the old geezers or go to your museum or local archive if you don’t believe me.
I have participated, many years ago, in a Grinddrab at the Færøerne…… I know my pilot whales.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXZPmdULIKs&feature=related
The same Wikipedia link you refer me to has a chapter about sound pollution and sonar
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beached_whale#SONAR
You could read it too.
I don't believe it ever was a tradition here; if it was, we'd still be doing it. You know Falkland Islanders and tradition, especially if it involves eating wildlife.
I did read the article. I also know that pilot whales beach themselves all over the world and have done for a very long time.
Yes, Pilot whales can beach themselves too.
But……this time: ”Unusually many of them were floating dead in the water, Chris May said”
I’m just mentioning the obvious…………
Like the penguin mass dead in the 90’s, remember?
They died by the millions...................
Whilst fishing boats extracted 100.000 tons of fish from the waters near the rockeries.
One man mentioned the obvious then.
He got walloped……….
Rockhopper area of exploration:
www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk/exploration/maps.php
Speedwell Island location:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedwell_Island
Notice the blindingly obvious fact that Rockhopper are North of the Islands, Speedwell Island off the coast of Lafonia is to the South.
But then logic has never been a strong point, when it comes to taking any incident to manufacture a way of having a go at the Falkland Islands.
A couple of other facts, 100,000 T of fish was not extracted from waters near Rookeries, that was the total from the entire EEZ.
OK carry on with the bigotry and the hate El Thicko.
Seismic Oil Survey has been ongoing, on and off, all over the area shown in the map below, since 2001…………….
www.petroleum-economist.com/images/46/25591/falklands2.gif
Other than innuendo is there anything to link this event with a seismic survey?
OK carry on with the bigotry and the hate El Thicko.
But……this time: ”Unusually many of them were floating dead in the water, Chris May said”
I’m just mentioning the obvious…………”
What's obvious think? that in some mysterious way seismic surveying hundreds of kilometres away killed these Pilot Whales just as they happened to be swimming right next to a beach on Speedwell Island........or that they beached themselves (as they do), died, then the spring tide floated them off?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W77IqQW9xzU&playnext=1&list=PL9A48799C81AC96B1
At least wash the oil off of the penguins in your own province before accusing others of environmental abuse.
Criticism of the oil industry and its methods is more than fair enough, but at least do it with a bit of perspective.......
That Australian interview does just get funnier with every view though, my favourite part is at the start of the interview when he's ‘trying to pinpoint’ exactly which whale the interviewer is talking about at around 1:15, another funny part is:
‘I believe it was a fairly elderly mammal’
‘How do you know that?'
‘Well, it would have to be wouldn’t it? You’re not going to die of old age unless you’re getting on a bit’
I’d be surprised if seismic surveying had no adverse effects on marine life, but why take up the issue if it’s happening on both sides?
Oz Busines as usual
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUpV-Ibq-0Q
Oz Immigration:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOI_skq5TuM
Oz values
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI6zK9Y38qk
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!