Third Sperm Whale Dies off P.E.I.'s North Shore
A third sperm whale, part of a group of three stranded off the coast of Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), has died. This follows the deaths of the first two whales confirmed the previous day, according to the Marine Animal Response Society.
The Stranding Event
The three young male sperm whales were first spotted on Saturday night near Hardys Channel, close to East Bideford in western P.E.I. These massive creatures, each weighing between 15 and 20 tonnes, became stranded on the ocean side of a small chain of islands.
Tonya Wimmer, executive director of the Marine Animal Response Society, stated that the decision was made to allow nature to take its course, prioritizing the animal's well-being and human safety. "What was decided yesterday, in the sense of the best thing for the animal and obviously with human safety in mind, was to let … nature take its course, let the animal pass peacefully," she said.
Challenges in Rescue Efforts
Wimmer explained the limitations in assisting such large marine animals. "There's only a few handful of options that can even be considered with animals this large," she noted. "The usual tools we may have to be able to refloat or move animals aren't necessarily available to us."
She emphasized the importance of not interfering inappropriately, warning that "to put a rope around the tail and pull" would be detrimental to the whales. Sperm whales are typically found far offshore, in waters at least 800 meters deep, where they dive to feed on deepwater squid and other prey.
Unusual Location and Next Steps
"For them to be in extremely shallow waters was a … bit of a red flag because this really is an area they shouldn't be in, in terms of how they work and function and use the habitat and what they eat," Wimmer explained.
The Marine Animal Response Society plans to arrange a necropsy on at least one of the whales to determine if a physical ailment contributed to the stranding. The aim is to discover if the whales were healthy but disoriented, or if there was an underlying medical reason for their behavior.
