Beaked Whales wash ashore in the Azores

Four cetaceans, identified as Beaked Whales, washed ashore in the Santa Cruz da Lagoa beach on São Miguel in the afternoon of June 24, 2009. The animals were finally driven off the coast by the Maritime Policy and volunteers (bathers and lifeguards), moving away by their own means. A month later, 4 Sowerby’s Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon bidens) washed ashore in the Praia da Vitória bay on July 28, and one ended up dead. Some have managed to be driven off the coast after a continuous operation that lasted more than 24 hours undertaken by the maritime authority (Navy and Maritime Police). Two Sowerby’s Beaked Whales washed ashore dead on the Almoxarife Beach on Faial Island yesterday night, July 30, while another one was found alive, although in a very poor health condition, swimming near the surf zone. Despite all the efforts to save the animal that took place during the night, undertaken by various entities – the Maritime Police, the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries from the University of the Azores (DOP-UAç), the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea, the Clube Naval da Horta and the aid of some citizens – the third animal was found dead submerged near the port, in the same beach this morning. These three cases are considered unusual in the Region, and thus they have drawn the attention of the entities in charge of the SRAM Network for Washed up Cetaceans of the Azores. The main issue yet to be answered is related to the reason that led these cetaceans to show this behaviour which usually occurs in deep sea.In order to find an answer for these events, the SRAM invited a marine biologist of the DOP and a team of experts in Beaked Whales of the University of Las Palmas (Canary Islands) to perform an autopsy on the whale that died in Praia da Vitória. The same group, with the additional support of the biologists from the DOP-UAç, is in the city of Horta to perform the autopsy of the three whales that died on the Almoxarife Beach. Moreover, the works undertaken on Terceira Island have counted upon the support of the Praia da Vitória City Hall, Terceira Slaughterhouse and of various citizens. The animals that died on Faial Island were transported by the services of the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry, and the tests of the deceased animals will be carried out with the collaboration of COFACO, Lotaçor and APTO.The results of the tests carried out have been inconclusive until the present moment. The cause of death of the whales will have to be investigated through these tests, in which biologists will search for pathology signs, as it is known that one sick animal may trigger this group behaviour. The hypothesis that animals washed ashore on the three islands are connected cannot be ruled out for the moment, which will be a priority issue to be addressed by the group of scientists.

(In GACS/DRA)