OT: Whale Strandings in Australia & New Zealand

[Guest guest]

Curious if any of our national list folk have more information on this week's

strandings? Can't believe they refuse to say that the methods being used to

look for oil sites beneath the ocean floor has nothing to do with these.

 

I have a passion for whales.

 

Dale

rhymes with whale I know

 

 

[Guest guest]

G'day Dale.

 

 

 

I, too, have a passion for whales - and have seen a few while involved in

the oil exploration industry since the late 1960's. I've also seen dolphins

and sharks in the areas where seismic is undertaken - I've watched sharks

swimming beside the `guns' which provide the energy to produce the sound

waves used to map the subsurface.

 

 

 

An interesting theory I saw postulated the other day is that the dolphins

are herding the pilot whales - playing, or being vindictive?? - and whoops,

we're into shallow water. I'm not a marine biologist, but my reading of the

research is that the jury is still out - strandings have been recorded for

centuries.

 

Dennis Archer

http://www.toona.com.au

 

 

Dale Bernucca [dbernucca]

1 December 2004 14:30

 

OT: Whale Strandings in Australia & New Zealand

 

 

 

Curious if any of our national list folk have more information on this

week's strandings? Can't believe they refuse to say that the methods being

used to look for oil sites beneath the ocean floor has nothing to do with

these.

 

I have a passion for whales.

 

Dale

rhymes with whale I know

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Dennis!

 

I wondered if you might see this post and respond!!

 

I have read and heard that sharks are drawn to electromagnetic fields. I do not

know whether that is simply a trait in ocean predators. It was my understanding

that is one theory why some odd things are found in their bellies (i.e. radios).

 

I would think that the dolphins would be extremely sensitive to the sonar waves

(that's what's being used here??). They have a very extensive 'language' using

a range of frequencies that - and again this may be my interpretation - is

capable of being understood by other water species as they are able to pick up

on the nuance of frequencies and understand the 'language' of these other

species. I suppose that would be one way in which they may be able to herd the

pilot whales. But why would they be vindictive towards pilot whales?

 

Yes, strandings have been occurring for many centuries but recently it seems

that they are occurring more often and what is being found in the autopsied

bodies is scary. Heavy PCB toxicity for one thing - PCBs are believed to

suppress their immune system. Of course, there is the whole warming event also

occurring.

 

If you don't mind would you please keep me posted (offlist of course so as not

to clog here) if you hear of anything else? The kids follow global science news

every week.

 

Dale