why do whales beach themselves

The root cause of why whales beach themselves remains a mystery. However, marine experts believe that the detailed footage gathered of the pod’s behavior before the incident could provide answers. Scientists are hopeful that the drone footage of the mass stranding of pilot whales on Western Australia’s south coast could help them understand why the animals, and whales generally, beach themselves.

There are a number of theories as to why the pod would have beached en masse, including sound, acoustic pollution, and disruptions caused by humans. Wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta said that humans are really loud, and this sound could potentially be disrupting these animals. Emotional connections could also play a role, as pilot whales are some of the most emotional animals on the planet, and it is possible their huge capacity for emotion is behind the stranding behaviors.

Despite the uncertain science and art of understanding why whales beach themselves, scientists are taking DNA and other samples from the dead whales, including checking for the presence of diseases. Efforts to dispose of the whale carcasses will also commence, with the City of Albany taking charge of their removal from the beach and disposal at a local waste management facility. Overall, understanding why whales beach themselves is a complex and ongoing area of research, but the footage of the recent mass stranding on Cheynes Beach in Western Australia could provide valuable insights into this phenomenon.