Mass stranding of Cachalots in Japan

2025, July 29. Japan, Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture, Eastern Japan. A mass stranding of four Cachalots (sperm whales). Contrary to reports on social media, the whales came ashore before the earthquake. See: July 21 Fireball, over Kouzushima Island in Izu_islands 110km SW of the stranding. Will update further fireball data and images. 

Meteor activity in North Sea and cetacean strandings

Data just in on a fireball a day before stranding. 2025, July 25. North Sea. Fireball. Time: 21:51:52. Velocity: 42.7 km/sec. Duration: 3.68 sec. Travel Path: 155km. LLB:( 51.59, 3.40), LLE:( 52.32, 1.49). Height: 102, 93 km.

2025, July 26. Netherlands, beach between Heemskerk and Wijk aan Zee. Two Beaked whales stranded alive. One animal was refloated twice but died shortly after the last stranding. The other animal was euthanised.

2025, July 27. Netherlands, above Vlieland Island, Waden Sea, West Frisiand Islands. Fireball. Seen in Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, England, Gelderland, Hauts-de-France, Niedersachsen, Overijssel and Zeeland. Time: Local: 00:16, Saturday, July 26th 2025 around 22:36 UT. Travelling SE.  

A fourth rare whale strands. 2025, July 27. Scotland, Orkney, Braes Wick, Sanday. Northern Bottlenose Whale in an advanced state of decomposition.

Active meteoroid region

2025, July 26. Netherlands, beach between Heemskerk and Wijk aan Zee. Two Beaked whales stranded alive. One animal was refloated twice but died shortly after the last stranding. The other animal was euthanized.

2025, July 26. Alaska, Gastineau Channel near Sandy Beach in Juneau. A dead male humpback whale calf was found floating.

2025, July 26. Philippines, Pagapas Bay, Sitio Layon, Brgy. Balitoc, Calatagan. A lifeless melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra) was found along the shoreline.

2025, July 27. Netherlands, above Vlieland Island, Waden Sea, West Frisiand Islands. Fireball. Seen in Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, England, Gelderland, Hauts-de-France, Niedersachsen, Overijssel and Zeeland. Time: Local: 00:16, Saturday, July 26th 2025 around 22:36 UT. Travelling SE.  

Mass dolphin stranding in Madagascar

2025, July 16. Madagascar, North of country in Nosy Hara Marine Protected Area, around Besikidy Bay. A mass stranding of 22 dolphins including two juveniles (the species has not yet been identified) have been found dead in the mangroves. The cause of their stranding and death is not yet known and currently under investigation. The Madagascar National Park (MNP) staff were notified of the incident on the on 19th July, but was only confirmed by MNP on 21st July.

Mass stranding of rare whales in Scotland

2025, July 21. Scotland, Orkney, Papa Westray. A mass stranding of three Northern Bottlenose Whales. They were located deceased on one of Orkney's northernmost islands.

Image BBC

Three bottlenose whales found dead in Orkney stranding

Reminder of the July 3 Meteor. Scotland. Large Fireball / Small Airburst. (Electrophonic Meteor). Had delayed and concurrent sound properties. Time: 00:49. The meteor reportedly entered the Earth’s atmosphere at a staggering speed of about 12,427 mph (20,000 km/h) and was visible as brightly as a full moon before disappearing from view. Sound described as a huge sonic boom heard over 230,000 square kilometres. Tremor felt. The sonic boom was heard in UK and Ireland. Travelling East towards North Sea. Seen in England, Northern Ireland and Wales at a distance over 500 km. Parts of the fireball reportedly landed to the north of Ben Cruachan in Argyll. The incredible blast was spotted as far as the Outer Hebrides. Appin witness: “Then maybe 20 to 30 seconds later, an explosive bang.” The meteor was seen above Taynuilt and Fort William, with one person claiming the “huge bang” seemed to “wake up the whole town”. One person expressed their shock, saying: “I thought it was a bomb at first. I almost had a panic attack.” The boom was also “heard and felt” in Benderloch.

Approximate concurrent sound was 256 km from the meteor explosion. 

Approximate delayed sound was 585 km from the meteor explosion.

List of cetacean strandings in Scotland since the July 3rd meteor event

2025, July 3. Scotland. Large Fireball. (Electrophonic Meteor). Had delayed and concurrent sound properties.  

2025, July 6. Scotland, Highland. Risso's dolphin washed ashore dead in advanced decomposition.

2025, July 6. Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Cetacean (indeterminate species). Indeterminate.

2025, July 6. Scotland, Argyll and Bute. Short-beaked common dolphin/striped dolphin (indeterminate species) in advanced state of decomposition.

2025, July 7. Scotland, Argyll and Bute. Cetacean of indeterminate species. COD: Indeterminate at moment.

2025, July 9. Scotland, Highland. Risso's dolphin found dead in an advanced state of decomposition.

2025, July 10. Scotland, Angus. Bottlenose dolphin, alive-rehab.

2025, July 11. Scotland, Western Isles. Short-beaked common dolphin. In an advanced state of decomposition.  

2025, July 13. Scotland, Highland. Short-beaked common dolphin. In a moderate state of decomposition.

2025, July 13. Scotland, Highland. Risso's dolphin. In an advanced state of decomposition.

2025, July 15. Scotland, Highland. Short-beaked common dolphin/striped dolphin. In state of advanced decomposition.

2025, July 16. Scotland, Argyll and Bute. Harbour porpoise. In a state of moderate-advanced decomposition.

Orca strands in New Zealand

2025, July 14. New Zealand, Surf Club at Mairangi Bay Northshore Auckland. Beached Orca. Managed to self-refloat. The Marine Animal Disturbance Watch remains in effect for the next 14 days.

Fireball in New Zealand - Marine Animal Disturbance Watch

2025, July 13. New Zealand, East coast North Island. Fireball. Time: 04:23. Travelling ENE. Duration: 6 sec. Altitude: 90 to 30 km. I'm awaiting further data on any audio reports, so a Marine Animal Disturbance Watch should be noted for the region. I will evaluate further in any updates.

Fireballs Aotearoa  

Mass Dolphin Stranding on Pemba Island, Tanzania

Over 400 dolphins became stranded along Vumawimbi Beach on Pemba Island, part of the Zanzibar archipelago, between the night of June 30 and the morning of July 1. Rescue Outcome: Seven dolphins died, but the majority were successfully guided back to deeper waters by local fishermen and marine rangers. Expert Quote: Makame Omar Makame, from Zanzibar’s Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, noted that while small-scale disorientation happens, a mass stranding of this magnitude is rare in the region.

Photo: Rahma Suleiman

Marine Animal Disturbance Alert for UK and Ireland

2025, July 3. Scotland. Large Fireball. (Electrophonic Meteor) Had delayed and concurrent properties. Sound described as a huge boom heard over 230,000 square kilometres. Time: 00:49. Travelling East towards North Sea. Seen in England, Northern Ireland and Wales at a distance over 500 km. The incredible blast was spotted as far as the Outer Hebrides. Appin witness: “Then maybe 20 to 30 seconds later, an explosive bang.”

Considering the vast area, the sound was heard, a Marine Animal Disturbance Alert should be noted for waters in the UK, Ireland and coastal regions of mainland Europe. 

Update: The meteor was seen above Taynuilt and Fort William, with one person claiming the “huge explosion” seemed to “wake up the whole town”. One person expressed their shock, saying: “I thought it was a bomb at first. I almost had a panic attack.” The boom was also “heard and felt” in Benderloch.

The outer circle is the sighting, and the inner is the sound.

Fireball in Scotland

2025, July 3. Scotland. Fireball. (Electrophonic Meteor) Had delayed and concurrent properties. Time: 00:49 Travelling East towards the North Sea. Seen in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Update: 20250704: The concurrent and delayed sound was spread over a wide area; therefore, a Marine Animal Disturbance Alert should be noted for the region. 

Large Meteor in Sweden

I'm interested because this was largely over water, and because there has not been any cetacean stranding activity in the region recently, any incidents will stand out. There were a couple of reports of a sonic boom, but no concurrent reports were given. With the sea way narrow compared to the ocean, this could be categorised as medium-risk probability. 

2025, July 1. Sweden. Was spotted streaking through the skies above the Åland Islands and Sweden’s archipelago. Fireball. Travelling NE. Time: around 19:31 UT. Many viewers were left in awe after seeing the bright streak across the sky.

Mass stranding in the Philippines

2025, July 2. Philippines, Catanduanes, Lalawigan ng Catanduanes. A mass stranding is underway with 6 melon-headed whales dead. Yesterday, a pod of 70 were in the area. Updates to come.