Cachalot dead in Indonesia

2026, September 8. Indonesia, North Maluk (Molucca Sea), Ternate Island, Afe-Taduma Beach. The carcass of a female cachalot (sperm whale) found stranded. The whale had a total length of 9.8 meters, a body girth of 6.6 meters, a pectoral fin length of 75 centimeters, a dorsal fin length of 40 centimeters, and a tail length of 2.8 meters. Due to its size, an excavator was used to move and bury the carcass. Burial occurred near the stranding site to allow ongoing monitoring and ensure safe decomposition without environmental impact. See post below on meteor.

I've placed an approximate line over North Sulawesi where sound reports of the meteor were received after the September 12th meteor explosion (see post below). In the north of Sulawesi, there was a strong electrophonic signature. To the west of the island, there was a delayed sonic boom. The stranding occurred to the east across the Molucca Sea. 

Another whale stranding in Papua New Guinea

2026, September 10. Papua New Guinea, Raicoast, Madang Province. A large cachalot (sperm whale) washed ashore dead in a moderate state of decomposition. Cetacean strandings in this region have risen, as documented in previous posts. The tally includes two sperm whales, pilot whales and beaked whales. 

Blue whales strange behavior and cachalot stranding

I've been watching the tropical north, as written in previous posts, due to meteor activity and other natural phenomena taking place, and came across a standing and a near-stranding event. 

2026, September 8. Indonesia, North Maluku, Ternate, Kelurahan Afe Taduma Beach. A cachalot, sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), stranded. The sperm whale, approximately 9.8 meters long, apparently died before beaching. It was spotted by fishermen two days prior. 

2026, August 2. Indonesia, West Papua, southern Cenderawasih Bay, Kwatisore. A circular hole/depression in the reef measuring approximately 100 meters in diameter and 12 meters deep in the middle, accessible via a narrow, shallow channel. First recorded sighting of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) inside Cenderawasih Bay. The initial observation took place on August 2nd. Two whales approached within 200 meters of the shore. The larger whale entered the narrow reef channel and into the circular hole, while the smaller whale turned around and left the area. The entrapment phase lasted from the 2 August to approximately the 21 August. The blue whale (~20 meters in length) remained localised within the shallow 100 m reef hole for nearly three weeks. The animal swam in tight, continuous circles due to spatial constraints but exhibited calm behaviour. Attempted herding/rescue operations using surface dinghies to guide the whale back through the shallow exit channel were unsuccessful, as the whale refused to approach the channel. Sometime around the 21st of August, the whale successfully navigated out of the reef hole and channel on its own and departed the area. Local reports indicate three previous similar entrapment events at this exact reef location occurring more than 15 years prior, showing a recurring pattern. Three black dolphins died here before in a mass stranding years prior.

Two cachalots (sperm whales) dead in Denmark

2026, January 31. Denmark, Ålbæk Bugt, south of Skagen. A 13.7-meter-long cachalot (Sperm whale) stranded and died. Necropsy: The whale appeared to be in relatively good physical condition (not emaciated), suggesting it had been feeding until recently and was not suffering from long-term starvation caused by a "ball" of plastic or netting. I have posted before about cetaceans becoming scavengers in shallow rather than deeper water when they are no longer able to feed. Three fireballs of note: One occurred on the 4th and the other on the 20th. Both produced sonic booms. The first was seen in Friesland and the second in Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Skåne County, Skåne län. Another (not shown on map below) on January 14th was over the North Sea, north of the Netherlands, however no reports of sound were made. It was a relatively large, some distance from the coast, and lasted for a considerable duration. I'm currently working on this post regarding the collection of further fireball data and necropsy results. There was a large event in the North Sea in December, and I will update.

2026, February 6. Denmark, Region Esjberg, Blåvand (on North Sea side),sandbank off Blåvandshuk Lighthouse. Another dead cachalot (sperm whale) found stranded and dead.

Image: Maik Graf von Leonstein

Cachalot dead in Spain

2025, December 27. Spain, Costa Brava, Platja d'Aro beach. A Cachalot (sperm whale) calf washed ashore dead after a days-long levanter storm. The tether line dragged the cetacean to shore. 

2025, December 27. Malaysia, Borneo, beach in Karambunai. Dolphin stranded prompted investigations by the relevant authorities, with officials confirming that a report has been received.

Image: Berta Artigas Fontàs

Satellite image of dead whale and the prevention of whale strandings

Canada, Newfoundland, Clay Cove. Looks like a Sperm whale carcass floating near shore at 49°43'42.9"N, 56°41'21.8"W. Real-time satellite images could really change how we deal with whale strandings and prevention. Could you imagine AI tracking pods sending an alarm when one is close to shore?

Attempted/ongoing stranding attempt and dead cachalot on Chatham Island east of New Zealand

2025, November 4. Chatham Islands (Rēkohu). Near Stranding. Two large groups of Black Dolphins (Pilot whales) surrounded by a smaller species of dolphin. Pilot whales were mustered out of the bay by a boat. The whales were head bobbing which is a sign of stress.

Also on the same island: 2025, November 3. Chatham Islands. A 50 ft female Cachalot (Sperm Whale) stranded and died on the other side of the island. It died in the early hours of the 4th. 

Update 20251109: So far, no pods have been seen near the shore. Good sign. 

Image - Facebook: Kaingaroa School, Rēkohu-Wharekauri-Chatham Islands  

Because of the US Government shutdown, the information below is incomplete. I few bolides were detected after the July period; however, I assume there are more.

The Lebanon/Palestine mass cetacean stranding incident in 2023

2023, August 21. Cyprus, Mediterranean Sea. Fireball. Travelling east. Delivered concurrent and delayed sound. Time: Around 18:23 UT or 21:23LT. Seen in Antalya, Jerusalem District, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos. This was the only event recorded in the region that created a sonic boom in 2023 and three years before this. The last one recorded was out of the cetacean migratory season. 

2023, August 28 to September 3. Israel and Lebanon. A cluster stranding of 3 cachalots (sperm whales). The first of the three was found August 28, on a Palestinian beach. The carcass of a male sperm whale was ~ 12 meters long. The second washed up the next day, August 29, north of the city of Tyre in Lebanon was ~ 14 meters long. The third was found on Sunday, which given the date sequence would be September 3, (assuming that timeline) south of Tyre. It was a male sperm whale. The size less clearly given in that report. Researchers noted the unusually close timing and location: three whales in a short stretch of coastline (~130 km) between Israel and Lebanon. At least two of them were male. Because sperm whales often travel in groups of young males (“bachelor groups”), this raised concern that some traumatic regional event (e.g. seismic activity or underwater blast) might have affected the group.  

Mass whale stranding in Canada

2025, September 27. Canada, Prince Edward Island, Pituamkek National Park Reserve. Efforts are underway to refloat three large sperm whales that are stranded off western Prince Edward Island's North Shore. The cetaceans stranded on the ocean side of a small chain of islands close to Hardys Channel on Gulf of St. Lawrence side, near East Bideford. Meteor activity in the region includes an event on the 21st west of Quebec City and one on the 22nd on the east coast of Nova Scotia, with both events producing sonic booms.  

Images: DFO

Note: (Southern Hemisphere) There is an active meteor outburst in the constellation of horologium. Next 72 hours. The radiant is near Gamma Horologii.  

Cachalot calf dies in Samos

2025, August 31. Greece, island of Samos, North Aegean. Dead cachalot (sperm whale) calf. There was a sonic boom heard in Istanbul and the Aegean Sea region on August 2nd, with the object seen as far south as Crete The second fireball was over the north Thracian Sea coastal area on 20th. Information is limited. The August 2nd event was travelling towards the Black Sea. 

Update: 2025, August 1. Aegean Sea. Fireball. Travelling north. 2025 around 20:27 UT. Local Time: 23:27EEST.

Update 20250902: Another Fireball: Saturday, August 30th 2025, around 18:14 UT. Over the coastal region of Izmir in Turkey, the east Aegean Sea. Reports from Greece and Bulgaria. Traveling east.

Update 20250905: Mediterranean, Ionian Sea. Fireball. Travelling NNW towards the Adriatic Sea. No Sound. Seen in Sicilia and Vlorë County on Tuesday, September 2nd 2025, around 17:59 UT. Local Time: 20:29.

This is not a mass stranding event, however there is a lot of activity in the region, so it could escalate. 

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. A woman walking her dog located the whales, and the first phone call to police was made around 1800, 14.5 hours before the earthquake. See: July 21 Fireball, over Kouzushima Island in the Izu Islands 110km SW of the stranding. Will update further fireball data and images. 

Australia and New Zealand cetacean and meteor activity in May

2025, May 12. New Zealand, inland North Island between Rotorua and Taupo. Seen at Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, Waikato and Wellington in locations 440km apart. Fireball. Time: around 07:57 UT. Travelling west to east.

2025, May 18. New Zealand, North Island, Waiheke, Onetangi Beach. Dead Pygmy Cachalot.

2025, May 19. Tasmania, Hobart. Fireball. Time: Around 20:32. Looking towards the west/south west. Duration: 6 sec.

2025, May 19. South Australia, Largs Bay. A dolphin calf washed ashore dead.

2025, May 21. New Zealand, North Island. Small Fireball. Time: 22:38. Travelling west to east over water between the mainland and Rangitoto Island north of Auckland.

2025, May 21. New Zealand, South Island, Westport, Carters Beach. Dead Pygmy Sperm whale.

2025, May 30. New Zealand, North Island, north of Auckland. Fireball. Seen in Waikato Region. Travelling SSW. Time: 21:42NZST and around 09:27 UT.

Whale dies in English Channel after two Fireballs

2025, May 22. English Channel. Fireball. Time: 22:01 UT;2025-05-23 00:01CEST. Almost identical to the event below, two days later, just further out into the sea. Seen in France and the Netherlands.  

2025, May 24. Bangladesh, Cox's Bazar sea. A 50-kilogram Irrawaddy dolphin was rescued.

2025, May 24. USA, California, New Brighton State Beach. Dead dolphin.

2025, May 24. English Channel. Fireball. Observed in France, Belgium, Germany, UK and the Netherlands. A sonic boom with concurrent and delayed properties was observed. Travelling SW over the mouth of the River Somme. 2025-05-24 Time: 00:00 or 22:03 UT May 23rd.  

2025, May 24.  English Channel, Guernsey, Channel Islands, Chouet Beach. Dead whale.

2025, May 24. South Africa, Struisbaai on the plaat. A cachalot (sperm whale) washed ashore alive but died. There have been two meteor airbursts within regional stranding parameters, one on March 29 and the other on April 8. See April 1st and April 9th posts regarding Marine Animal Disturbance Alerts. 

Sperm Whale in South Africa. 

Pulse Strandings in Germany after Meteor Activity

2025, May 12. Germany, Schleswig-Holstein, St. Peter-Ording. A Humpback whale 10 meters long, and the cause of its death is still unknown. This is the third stranding in the region. A 14-meter cachalot (sperm whale) was found on the island of Sylt, and then a younger and emaciated humpback whale was found on the island of Minzener-Oog. In February 2024 there was a pulse of strandings that came after fireball activity. This has played out the same way as in Denmark and Norway.

Sperm whale dies in Scotland

2025, April 9. Scotland, Ettrick Bay, on the Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde. A 14 meter long cachalot (sperm whale) that was seen in shallow water on April 8 has stranded and died.

(Image: SDPhotographyBute)

Further cetacean strandings

Added whale strandings, with others catalogued at a later date.

2025, March 22. Philippines, Babuyan Islands, Calayan, Sitio Katanapan, Barangay Dibay. A Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) was found stranded. The whale, a male measuring 5.18 meters, was already in a decomposed state when reported by local residents.

2025, April 2 (Date sometime in last week). Norway, Dverberg on the island of Andoya. Cachalot (sperm whale). The sperm whale washed ashore in the town in a moderate state of decomposition. It was a male animal about 15.7 meters long.

Sperm whale dead in Bahamas

You can almost set your clock by fireball/stranding in the Bahamas. 

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 19. Bahamas, Grand Cay, Abaco. Dead juvenile cachalot (sperm whale).

Image: Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization.

Mass Cachalot (Sperm whale) stranding on Flinders Island, Tasmania. Updated 20241010

2024, October 6. Tasmania, Flinders Island, Bass Strait. Five Cachalots (sperm whales) found stranded on Marshall Bay Beach on Flinders Island have all died, officials have confirmed, despite efforts to save two overnight. Crews from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and the Marine Conservation Program found three of the whales dead when they first arrived to inspect them on Monday.

(Supplied: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania)  

(Supplied: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania)

Google Maps

All the below meteors were caught on camera on the 7th, the day after the stranding. 

Meteor Map – Fireballs Aotearoa

Further activity

2024, October 3. New Zealand, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Waikato. Fireball. Time: around 09:20UT. 22:08NZDT.

2024, October 7. New Zealand, South Island. Fireball. Time: around 06:59 UT. 19:59NZDT. Seen at Canterbury and Tasman travelling east in the N.W of island.  

2024, October 10. New South Wales / Queensland. Fireball. Seen in locations 700km apart from western Sydney to Toowoomba in Queensland.  

Looking back 30 years ago to the Cachalot (Sperm Whale) stranding in Scotland

Sanday Sperm Whales Stranding Commemoration video. It was only a small part of a larger mass-stranding event that stretched across the North Sea including the Netherlands and Belgium. The true number of deaths will never be known. This European event was a wider mass marine and land disturbance that included the Southern Hemisphere. The reason was the airburst activity that I have written about previously. 

Sanday Sperm Whales Stranding Commemoration (youtube.com)

The 1997 Airburst that killed 115 Cachalots (sperm whales)

1997, November 7. Southern Ocean. Midway between the South Island of New Zealand and Antarctica. Large Airburst. Time 07:46, (-57.3, 167.2). e = 8=, -e = 1.2 or an equivalent blast force of 1,900,000 kg/TNT.

1998, February 3 to 28. Tasmania. 115 Cachalots (97 female, 15 male, 3 unknown sex) were involved in three mass stranding events along the west and northwest coastlines. It should be noted that during (Stranding 1) thirty whales were seen offshore but never stranded.

Ocean Beach, Strahan (Stranding 1) On the evening of 3 February 1998, several cachalots were reported ashore on Ocean Beach near Strahan (42"18'S, 145'16'E). By the morning of 4 February, 66 animals had stranded, 12 of which were still alive. A rescue operation towed two animals (one male, one of unknown sex) offshore by midday, at which time two females and two males remained alive. By 0700 on 5 February, only one female and one male were alive. The female was euthanized and the male was refloated and towed offshore at 1630.

Greens Beach, Marrawah (Stranding 2)

At 0700 on 19 February 1998, local residents reported a group of cachalots in a tightly grouped formation off Greens Beach, Marrawah (40°55'S, 144'39'E). Shortly after 1000, they began to strand. By 0700 on 20 February only five of the 35 whales ashore were alive, with rough seas inhibiting any chance of rescue. At 1300 one male and one female were alive. By 0900 on 21 February, the female had died and at 11:00 the male was euthanized.

Black River Beach, Stanley (Stranding 3)

At 1000 on 28 February 1998, 11 Cachalots were reported ashore at Black River Beach, Stanley (40'50’S, 145’17’E). At 1230, 10 females were found deceased and one male alive. At 0400 on 1 March the male sperm whale was towed offshore, but later re-stranded at Edgecumbe Beach (40’52’S, 145’25’E), 10 km east at 1600. This animal was positively identified from Black River Beach by the presence of a lower jaw deformity. At 0230 on 2 March, the whale was towed offshore again and was followed for approximately 14 km, after which it was observed to swim away.

Therefore, 66 of these cachalots were stranded at Ocean Beach, Strahan; 35 at Greens Beach, Marrawah; and 11 at Black River Beach, Stanley. The remaining whales stranded singly along the coastline. Three mass strandings of this species in such close temporal proximity have not been reported in this area before, and this is the first time that data have been comprehensively collected from complete or near‐complete groups of sperm whales from Tasmanian waters. Adult females dominated the three stranding groups. Total lengths ranged from 417 to 1,200 cm and ages ranged from 0.75 to 64 years. Four females were lactating, and four fetuses were found among the groups. Stomach contents were dominated by pelagic cephalopods.