Global Whale Stranding Updates

2025, May 5. Gran Canaria. A 16-metre fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), the second-largest animal on the planet after the blue whale weighing approximately 15 tonnes. It was spotted by a merchant ship approximately 5 kilometres east of the Port of San Cristobal.The whale was towed to the Port of Las Palmas.

2025, May 6. Spain, Mazarron, Playa del Alamillo. A Cuviers Beaked whale calf found dead. Cause of death unknown.

2025, May 6. Vanuatu, Torres Islands, Toga. A large dead whale was located on reef.

2025, May 6. USA, Massachusetts, Jetties Beach Nantucket. Dead dolphin.

2025, May 6. Netherlands. Harbour porpoise found in a skeletal state of decomposition.

There is also an informative article to read about ship strikes in Chile. 

‘It’s like putting a whale in a blender’: the rise of deadly ship collisions in Chile | Whales | The Guardian

Gray whale stranding in Mexico

2025, April 5. Mexico, Costa Baja, La Paz Bay. A dead Gray whale in an advanced state of decomposition has washed ashore. 

This is a crucial issue in Mexico, hence the post. I will place a weekly update on further cetacean strandings later.

Glacier retraction and meteor streams

An interesting discovery in my research has been the sporadic retraction of glaciers globally. I will write further about this in the future; however, this is one of the main findings. Europe versus Greenland. In Europe the glaciers are under a condition of rapid retreat whereas in Greenland they are growing or stable. Why? The answer seems to be in meteoroid streams and the scattering of iron and other elements into the atmosphere. Europe since 1850 has been a very active region for meteor activity whereas in Greenland it seems to be rather non-existent and still is. This stream or activity is steadily moving westward. The darker snow gets the more heat it will absorb and this seems to be the case in Europe. There is also a correlation in other parts of the world. Once again meteors are the quiet killer that are not just affecting whales, they are affecting other environmental foundations we rely on. 

Food from the gods, Nigerian locals feast on whale

A couple of hours ago I updated the Africa Airburst stranding alert for the June 1st airburst in the Atlantic. Not exactly where I thought a stranding would occur, and I hope it isn't a bad omen for what comes next. See June 5th post titled: Airburst in Equatorial South Atlantic - Updated 20240621

2024, June 19. Nigeria, Bayelsa, Gulf of Guinea. Okpoma, Brass Local Government Area. Residents from Twon-Brass, Odioma, Fish Town and Sangana villages used machetes, hawk shaws and axes to butcher the dead animal. The whale measured about 15 meters long, five meters wide and three meters high. 

‘Food from the gods’ : Bayelsa residents feast on whale swept (guardian.ng)

Also: 2024, June 20. USA, Delaware Bay near New Jersey. A dead large humpback whale was found floating. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration are investigating.

Dead whale found floating in Delaware Bay near N.J. - nj.com

Sad ending for a beautiful mammal

2024, June 15-16. New Zealand, Hawke Bay, Mahia. Dead juvenile Orca.

2024, June 13. New Zealand, Lake Ferry Beach, Wairarapa. Juvanile Dolphin. Saved by fisherman.  

Photo Credit: Project Jonah/Facebook 

 Project Jonah is always looking for volunteers to help these majestic animals.

Two marine mammals stranded - Wairarapa Times-Age

2013 South Africa Incident - The airburst and 20 False Killer whales

2013, March 12. South Africa. South Atlantic Ocean. 70 km west of Paternoster South Africa. Coordinates: ( -32.7, 17.1). Time: 10:32. e = 2.9, -e = 0.1 or equivalent to 100,000 kg/TNT. Altitude was 26 km which was at the lower end of the scale. Velocity is unknown.

2013, March 13. South Africa, Cape Town, Noordhoek Beach. 20 False Killer whales were stranded on the beach with only three known to survive.  Interesting note – Between 1880 and 1885 a mass stranding of killer whales took place in South Africa at Muizenberg Beach in False Bay (only 10km away over the headland). There were 7 specimens photographed but there could be more. It is the first known image of a whale stranding.

2013 Airburst incidents from January 1st to April 1st.

Dead whale near Channel Islands

2024, June 5. English Channel, 24-32 kilometres southwest of Guernsey, Channel Islands. Whale 15 meters long. Species undetermined at this time, likely a humpback. Guernsey Coastguard is investigating.

Picture supplied by Channel Islands Air Search

CI Air Search deployed to monitor dead whale | Guernsey Press

Dead tuna washing up in Spain

2024, May 31. Cadiz. Spain. Several tuna are washing up dead at Cortadura and La Victoria in the Andalusian city of Cadiz. See the May 19 post relating to the Portugal meteor.

Why are dead tuna fish washing up on the beaches of Cadiz? | Sur in English

The pond that kills Belugas

2 more belugas dead at Marineland marking 17 whale deaths since 2019. Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

2 more belugas dead at Marineland marking 17 whale deaths since 2019 | CBC News