Dolphins dead in Uruguay

2026 July 22 (July 17 to date). Uruguay. Cluster stranding of 12 Fraser's dolphins. Working Group on Marine Fauna Strandings (GTV) has verified 12 registered strandings of Fraser's dolphins. These occurred in the towns of San Luis (2, with one returned to sea), Colonia del Sacramento (2), Punta del Este (2), Playa Verde (1), Barra del Chuy (3), Oceanía del Polonio (1) and Cabo Polonio (1). Preliminary results from autopsies performed on 3 of the dolphins indicate a possible link to Cetacean Morbillivirus– a highly contagious virus among whales and dolphins that can cause immunosuppression, pneumonia, and encephalitis. However, this is still a preliminary diagnosis and requires further confirmation.

Fireball seen as orca rescue underway in Uruguay

2026, April 26. Uruguay, Playa Mansa, Punta del Este. An orca(killer whale) calf stranded on a beach. After failed rescue attempts, the whale was euthanised. A team continued efforts to save the animal under difficult weather conditions. The animal had stayed close to the shore, showing signs of weakness.

2026, April 27. Uruguay, Playa Mansa. Fireball. Time: around 01:54 UT or 22:51LT. The event was recorded by security cameras and widely observed in Argentina and Uruguay. Duration 6+ seconds. Fragmented over Maldonado. No reports of sonic boom. Seen in Punta del Este, Buenos Aires Province, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Maldonado Department, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Santa Fe. This is the first report of a fireball in Uruguay this year.  

Also: New Zealand, North Island. It had a flurry of activity on the 26th, 27th and 28th across the North Island. One meteor detected on camera was over 10 seconds in duration, low and slow. Overall, about half a dozen were detected over water on both sides of the Island down to Cook Strait, with three stretching over a region of sky south of Auckland (Pacific/Tasman Sea). No NASA airbursts or AMS were logged or reported within the time frame, so it's a wait-and-see scenario. The atmosphere (globally) has been quiet, with the risk of a mass stranding (as I see it) regarded as low. Spyhopping whales on the 24th is a strong indicator that something is annoying them, but hopefully, like the past Chatham Island whales, they will settle. Just a reminder, if meteors are being picked up on camera of a night that restricted time frame allows for added objects not detected during daylight hours so the flux could be much higher than observed.

Cetacean Strandings and meteor activity since March 14

2025, March 14. Mexico, Baja California Sur, Playa Antares, East Cape. Dead Gray whale. Severely emaciated 40 gray whale deaths have been recorded, primarily among young and adult specimens. Unusually, the deceased whales are not calves.

2025, March 15. USA, Rhode Island, Seaconnet Boulevard in Portsmouth, seawall in Island Park. Dead dolphin.

2025, March 15. USA, Florida, North Atlantic. Fireball. Time: 02:18UT. 22:18EDT. Travelling WSW. Started off at the coastal latitude of Orlando moving towards, and north of The Bahamas and into continental shelf.

2025, March 15. The Bahamas, North Atlantic. Large Fireball. Travelling WSW for over 500 km. It started near Cape Canaveral and passed north of the Bahamas.

2025, March 17. Spain, La Unión, Playa del Lastre beach. Dead common dolphin.

2025, March 18. Guyana, Georgetown, Stabroek. A pygmy whale (Feresa sp.) was rescued and returned to the sea.

2025, March 18. Equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Airburst. Coordinates: (1.5S, 30.4W). 694 km NE off the coast of Brazil, State of Rio Grande do Norte. Altitude: 27 km. Velocity: 20.1 km/s. e = 11, -e = 0.33 or 330,000 kg/TNT. Ratio 2024-2025 = 3:10. Marine Animal Disturbance Alert. The last airburst off the NE coast of Brazil corresponded with a mass whale stranding.

2025, March 19. USA, California, Devereux Beach. Dead dolphin.

2025, March 19? USA, South Carolina, Bird Island. A 29 foot juvenile male humpback whale was found dead in North Myrtle Beach.

2025, March 19. Mexico, Baja California Sur, Puerto San Carlos, Magdalena Bay. Dead whale.

2025, March 18. Irish Sea, Isle of Man. Fireball. Seen in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Time: 22:38 UT. 22:38GMT. Travelling W.S.W.

2025, March 20. UK, Gwithian beach near St Ives. A single long-finned pilot whale was stranded.

2025, March 19. USA, Florida, Gulf of Mexico. Fireball. Time: 01:55UT, 19:21 EDT. Travelling WNW.

2025, March 21. UK, Dorset, Poole, Sandbanks beach. Dead dolphin.

2025, March 21. USA, California, Isla Vista. Dead dolphin.

2025, March 22. Uruguay, Punta Seaport. A large baleen whale became stranded in a port. Unknown if free.

Magellanic penguins, airbursts and the east coast of South America

2010, March 18. Airburst.

In 2010, 550 penguins were found on Brazil's coastline. They were believed to have starved to death. Before 2010, only roughly 10 dead penguins would be expected to be found ashore in a typical year.

2012, May 25. Airburst.

In June 2012, higher numbers were recorded, with 742 Magellanic penguins discovered in a decomposed state on the shores of Brazil. The causes of death were investigated. The birds were young and "natural causes" were assumed.

2023, February 14. Airburst.

In July 2023, more than 2000 dead penguins were washed up on the shores of Uruguay. According to Uruguayan authorities, 90% of these were juveniles without fat reserves and with empty stomachs. All carcasses tested negative for avian influenza. Other dead seabirds, sea turtles and sea lions were found on the coast of the Maldonado Department.

2010

2012

2023