Mass stranding of whales in Tasmania

2024, November 3. Tasmania, Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania’s West Coast. Mass stranding of 25 Black Dolphins (Pilot Whales) in Tasmania. Four stranded pilot whales remain on a remote beach in the area, with NRE officers now assessing the situation.  

The whales during the rescue operation. Image / Wayne Mcdermott  

Rescue mission underway after mass whale stranding in Macquarie Harbour - Pulse Tasmania

71 Dolphins strand and die in New Zealand. Update: 20240822 Two fireballs days after stranding

2024, August 19. Chatham Islands, New Zealand, Hanson Bay near Owenga. A total of 71 pilot whales were stranded on a beach in Chatham Islands. All died or were euthanised. The stranding was reported to the Department of Conservation (DoC) around midday on Monday.

Credit: New Zealand Herald

71 pilot whales die after stranding on Chatham Islands beach - NZ Herald

2024, August 19. USA, Virginia. Two dolphins, one in Sandbridge and the other in Chic’s Beach. Both animals were deceased when they were reported. It is unclear what may have killed the dolphins. Postmortem exams and assessments will determine the cause of death.

Update: 2024, August 21. Tasman Sea, New Zealand. Fireball. Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki. Time: around 06:34UT, 18:34NZST. Travelling E.S.E towards South Island/Cook Strait region.

2024, August 21. New Zealand, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Waikato. Time: 11:30 UT. 2024-08-21 23:30NZST. Traveling S.S.W. S.E of Auckland.

2 dolphins wash ashore in Virginia Beach – Daily Press

2024, August 14. South Africa, south of Durban, Athlone Park. A dead Humpback whale with its stillborn calf protruding through its birth canal, still in its placenta, washed out onto the shore at an Athlone Park beach. The incident happened near the Wavecrest Road flats.

Update: Dead whales wash out onto beach in Athlone Park | South Coast Sun (citizen.co.za)

Mass stranding in Scotland

2024, July 11. Scotland, Orkney, Tresness Beach on the island of Sanday. A pod of 77 Long Finned Black Dolphins (pilot whales) has died. The pod included males up to seven metres (22ft) long and females, calves and juveniles. See July 6 post. 

77 whales dead after 'biggest mass stranding in decades' in Orkney (bbc.com)

2009 South Africa Incident

2009, April 10. Southern Ocean, South of South Africa. Large Airburst. Time: 1842. Coordinates: (-44.7, 25.7). e = 27, -e = 0.73 or equivalent energy of 730,000 kg/TNT. Altitude: 32.4. Velocity: 19.1 km/s.

2009, May 30. South Africa, Kommetjie Beach. 55 Black dolphins (pilot whales) were stranded and died. Of the pod 10 died of stress quickly and the others were euthanized.

Fireballs (nasa.gov)