More Than 50 Stranded Whales Reported In British Virgin Islands – Find All There Is To Know!
Have you ever heard of or been to the British Virgin Islands? It’s a beautiful archipelago of more than 50 separate isles that serve as a nursery of Caribbean culture unrivaled anywhere else in the world. It is a self-governing British overseas territory in the Caribbean, located immediately east of the United States Virgin Islands.
The British Virgin Islands, or BVIs, is a popular vacation spot for sailors, anglers, sunbathers, and other independent travelers. You may be wondering why sailors? Actually, it’s because the island is full of underwater animals such as whales, sharks, dolphins and much more!
However, unfortunately, government officials report that more than 50 short-finned pilot whales have been found dead after becoming stranded in the British Virgin Islands. How sad is that?
What Could Be The Reason?
Numerous whales, dolphins, and other marine creatures are stranded on beaches every year, all around the world.
Now, what exactly is stranding? Basically, it is a phenomenon that affects healthy people and damaged (or dead) animals pushed ashore by strong winds. What happens is that sometimes, a group of marine animals beach themselves together in what is known as mass strandings; other times, a region might see an unusual number of strandings over time. How heartbreaking!
Nevertheless, if we dive more into the case, it became under notice that most of the observers in the region reported seeing a pod of around 150 whales. But what could be the reason? According to officials, they are obtaining tissue samples from as many dead whales as they can in order to identify the reason for this mass stranding.
Moreover, according to another report, although scientists have occasionally pointed fingers at illness, hazardous algal blooms, vessel impacts, fishing gear entanglements, pollution exposure, and underwater noise, the causes of strandings are frequently unknown.
Do you know that short-finned pilot whales prefer the warmer tropical and temperate waters and typically reside in groups of 25 to 50? The American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration state that male lifespan is up to 45 years and female lifespan is up to 60 years.
In fact, according to Ms. Argel Horton, a marine biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, “Unfortunately, survival rates are very low for beached whales, and the BVI does not have the captive facilities for nursing giant injured species.”
She also said that mass stranding in whales usually occurs in highly social species such as the pilot whales that have been stranded in Anegada over the past few days.
They have a herding instinct, meaning that the entire group will most likely stick together even if one is sick or damaged, ultimately leading to the whole pod strand while trying to support that one. Even if healthy whales are removed from the beached area, they usually return to the shore, as the unhealthy whales will keep calling for help. How devastating!
Guidelines For The Community
As soon as this tragedy occurred, officials warned the public not to move or touch their carcasses after discovering them on the eastern part of Anegada island.
In fact, the general public is still encouraged to avoid the water near the dead whales and to let the Ministry know if they spot any further potential strandings in the Territory.
Even Ms. Horton advises locals to maintain composure and avoid dragging or pulling beached whales out to open water. Doing so could endanger them more than it would help because sharks may be alert and ready to attack.
As for the overall community, the territory’s natural resources are still managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour in a way that assures their sustainability over the long term. Thank God; finally, something positive to hear!
Good News; The Removal Process Has Begun!
As mentioned earlier, the Ministry will gather tissue samples from as many dead whales as possible with the cooperation of two local non-profit organizations, the Association of Reef Keepers and Beyond the Reefs, in an effort to identify the reason for this mass stranding. But, what have they done so far to remove these dead whales?
According to reports, 17 whales that were discovered entangled in mangrove forest prop roots and conch mounts were brought out to sea. Also, they buried the 30 to 40 whales that had been beached on the sand. The removal task was anticipated to be finished by Wednesday, July 6, which means it has been done by now. Good news, holy crap!
Moreover, The Honourable Melvin M. Turnbull, Minister of Natural Resources and Labour, said: “We are doing everything possible to prepare the area for the enjoyment of locals and visitors so that they can resume recreational activities within the area.
Moving forward, the Ministry will organize a local stranding network, working alongside our local NGO partners for clear and concise communication, resulting in quicker mobilization of all members involved.” How inspiring!
You Can Avoid Mass Stranding Of Pilot Whales - Learn How!
The British Virgin Islands are noted for their calm, turquoise waves lapping against sandy white beaches and high-end, sophisticated resorts. However, unfortunately, every year, hundreds of whales, dolphins, and porpoises tragically die on shores around the world, some from natural reasons and some from human activity.
Thus, although it’s an unfortunate tragedy, we can learn much from it.
For example, we could learn more about the deep-water mammals that rarely come into shallow seas from the DNA samples collected. Not only this, but we can also establish the gender, size of the stomach, age, and much more.
Lastly, every marine mammal that moves within the area should be reported to the Ministry by the public. The earlier they are made aware of potential stranding situations, the better since this will allow them to immediately mobilize their team and partner resources and maybe save their lives.
Honestly, what’s better than saving thousands of lives at once?
Browse our list of Kanana Caribbean hot spots and also checkout our news page for more updates.
Sources
Find Related News
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Latest News
Popular Posts
The Bahamas Holidays & Events You Must Attend at Least Once in A Lifetime
The Bahamas holidays are the definition of paradise, with over 700 islands encircled by dazzling blue waters. As you discover pink beaches, hidden sandbars, and deserted islands and coves, unwind and refresh during the Bahamas holidays.
