The carcasses of 18 highly endangered whales were recently found just off Alaska’s Kodiak Island. These new reports of whale deaths are extremely concerning to both researchers and scientists interested in preserving the dwindling populations of both species. Perhaps even more concerning, scientists are yet to find any kind of answer as to what caused the heartbreaking whale deaths.
A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY
First reports of these whale deaths first started flooding in between mid-June and early July, when researchers found the bodies of 18 whales, 10 of which were humpbacks, alongside 8 fin whales. Curiously, nearly all of the whales reported have been adults, with the exception of one calf. Most of the carcasses, according to Kate Wynne, a marine-life specialist at the University of Alaska, were too decomposed to do any significant sampling, making it incredibly difficult to determine the cause of the whale deaths being reported.
A GLOBAL CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Having long been the target for whaling industries as early as the 18th century, humpback whales have been on the endangered species list for quite some time. This, combined with their vulnerability to collisions with ships, getting tangled in fishing gear, and increased noise pollution in the world’s oceans makes the latest reported whale deaths a huge source of concern among researchers and conservationists alike, with their worldwide population of only 80,000 whales worldwide—down significantly from their number of 125,000 before whaling.
Even more concerning are the deaths of the 8 fin whales, which have been recorded as a species in danger of global extinction by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Similar to humpback whales, colliding with ships is a major cause of death for fin whales, and share a similar history of being harpooned by whaling industries for centuries.
With the populations of both endangered species slowly dwindling in waters across the globe, the pressure is on for scientists to discover the cause of the recent whale deaths.
NEW EVIDENCE MAY PROVIDE CLUES
Very few leads as to just what caused the reported whale deaths remain. According to Wynn, the only evidence that could potentially help scientists further their understanding include the fact that all the whales seemed to pass away at the same time, and within a small area, as well as the fact that further analysis of the carcasses indicated no signs of killer whale predation. “Other than that,” Wynn says, “we’re at a loss.”
While she admittedly might never know for sure, Wynn is working closely with the Marine Advisory Program in Kodiak to check for evidence of marine life holding toxic residuals in their systems. According to many marine-biologists involved in the case including Wynn, the ingesting of poisonous water and/or marine life is the most likely cause of the reported whale deaths.
