Dead sperm whales had stomachs full of plastic litter and other debris. Stomachs of dead sperm whales found in germany filled with. The matching of the sperm whale s fluke revealed that the animal had not been photographically matched before in the mediterranean sea. Feb 19, 2016 mystery behind european sperm whale deaths. Indonesian authorities have discovered flipflops, plastic bottles and cups in a dead sperm whale.
Results of sperm whale strandings in germany released. Nearly 30 sperm whales stranded in the uk, france, netherlands and germany at the start of the year, but it is still not clear why these whales got into difficulty in the first place. In 2018, a sperm whale was found beached in eastern indonesia and had consumed a lot of plastic litter. Our research program integrates both a longterm observational approach and innovative technology to address key questions about this marine apex predator. Large amounts of plastic waste were also found in the stomachs of the sperm whales, including fishing nets, parts of a plastic bucket and even a plastic car cover. May 06, 2016 beached sperm whales in germany photo credit. May 11, 2016 sperm whales found dead in germany, stomachs full of plastic and car parts may 11, 2016 by admin leave a comment twentynine sperm whales were found stranded on shores around the north sea, an area that is too shallow for the marine wildlife. It is thickset and has small paddlelike flippers and a series of rounded humps on its back. The sperm whale is our bracelet of the month and is available in both our beaded and braided style. Press release this shows that humans do not respect and care about other species sharing this planet. Oct 05, 2016 this article sperm whales found dead in germany, stomachs full of plastic and car parts is free and open source. Aug 23, 2016 stomachs of dead sperm whales found in germany filled with plastics, car parts. Between the 8th january and the 25th february 2016, the largest sperm whale physeter macrocephalus mortality event ever recorded in the north sea occurred with 30 sperm whales stranding in five countries within six weeks. This article sperm whales found dead in germany, stomachs full of plastic and car parts is free and open source.
According to a press release from wadden sea national park in schleswigholstein, many of the whales had stomachs full of plastic debris, including a meterlong fishing net, a 70 cm piece of plastic from a car and other pieces of plastic litter. Thirteen sperm whales stranded on the german coast had ingested huge amounts of plastic. Sperm whales stranded in uk may be part of beached german and. Once sperm whales enter the north sea and head south, the water. Lee smith via in january and february of 2016, a total of young sperm whales washed up on the beach near the town of tonning in schleswigholstein, germany. Read all news including political news, current affairs and news headlines online on sperm whales in germany today. Researchers find plastic, nets in stomachs of dead sperm whales. This beached whales stomach was filled with plastic bags. Its stomach was so distended, biologists thought the animal. The debris blocks their digestive tracts and, scientists suspect, delivers toxic chemicals into their bodies. A fishing net, part of a car engine and plastic buckets are found in the stomachs of sperm whales which washed up on a german beach the sperm whales washed up near the german town of toenning.
Only recently were details of the animals necropsy released. Sperm whales found dead with large amounts of plastic. Apr 24, 2016 this article sperm whales found dead in germany, stomachs full of plastic and car parts is free and open source. The cryptic nature of the problem is driven by a low probability of recovering carcasses with evidence of harm caused by plastic ingestion or entanglement. Affiliation wadden sea national park authority of lower saxony, wilhelmshaven, germany.
However, scientists were deeply disturbed by what they found in the animals stomachs. Sperm whales were mainstays of whalings 18th and 19th century heyday. Male adult sperm whales have been known to attack killer whales to compete for food. In the stomach of a sperm whale, which washed up in south spain. Young sperm whale found dead with stomach full of plastic. The sperm whale is listed as endangered under the endangered species act and depleted under the marine mammal protection act. They were all relatively young, from 10 to 15 years old, and all in decent health. Sperm whales found dead with stomachs full of plastic and. After a necropsy of the whales in germany, researchers found that four of the giant marine animals had large amounts of plastic waste in their stomachs. Fishing nets, rope, packing straps, bags and plastic cups were. From filterfeeding baleen whales like humpbacks and fin whales, to toothed sperm whales and killer whales, all are consuming enormous amounts of plastic. According to a press release out of the wadden sea national park in schleswigholstein, many of the whales that were washed ashore had stomachs completely full of. According to national geographic, they died of heart failure.
You have permission to republish this article under a creative commons license with attribution to the author and. At least 30 sperm whales have been found washed up on the beaches of the united kingdom, the netherlands, france, denmark and germany. In this study we describe a case of mor tality of a sperm whale related to the ingestion of large amounts of marine debris in the mediterranean. Sperm whales fertilize the oceans with their feces, which floats upward and is consumed by phytoplankton. The sperm whale physeter macrocephalus or cachalot is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. Scientists and officials have recorded mass strandings of sperm whales before in the. Fishing gear and an engine cover are just some of the startling contents found inside the stomachs of sperm whales that recently beached themselves on germany s north sea coast.
Sperm whale washed up on wales beach had plastic sheeting in. It is the only living member of the genus physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus kogia the sperm whale is a pelagic mammal with a worldwide range, and will migrate. In january, 29 sperm whales were found stranded on shores around the north sea, an area that is too shallow for the marine wildlife. News plastic filled sperm whale carcass washes ashore in indonesia. The garbage included a nearly 43footlong meterlong shrimp fishing net, a plastic car engine cover, and the remains of a plastic bucket, according to a press release from wadden sea.
Postmortem on thirteen dead sperm whales finds their stomachs full of plastic save the plastic included a metrelong fishermans net and a 70centimetre piece of plastic from a car. Another one had a 70 cm long plastic piece that is part of a car. An estimated 150 million tons of plastic are already floating in. Mar 30, 2016 thirteen sperm whales stranded on the german coast had ingested huge amounts of plastic. The 4ocean bracelet every purchase pulls a pound of plastic from. Jan 26, 2016 sperm whales stranded in uk may be part of beached german and dutch pods this article is more than 4 years old lincolnshire whales likely to have entered north sea with those washed up on north. They are symbolic of our shocking disregard for marine life. In april, a pregnant sperm whale was found in sardinia with 22 kilograms 49 pounds of plastic in its stomach. A postmortem on sperm whales that washed ashore near the town of toenning in schleswigholstein, germany, found plastic in their stomachs. Strandings of sperm whales have occurred across much of their global range. Sperm whales found dead on german shores contained garbage. Some suggest that the animals thought the items were food, such as squid, which is their main staple.
Thirteen sperm whales were found beached on schleswigholstein, germany. In 2016, fishing gear and an engine cover from a car were found inside the stomachs of sperm whales that beached themselves on germany s north sea coast. The strait see also the strait of gibraltar and its relevance for the cetaceans is a food source for the whales with an eminent whale population. One of the fish had a meter long fishing net in its stomach. Researchers find plastic, nets in stomachs of dead sperm. Throughout january and february, sperm whales found themselves stranded along the north sea coast of schleswigholstein, and while heart failure due to mistakenly venturing into the shallow north sea has been ruled as the cause of death, the medical examinations turned up a harsh reality after a very unsettling amount of indigestible plastic waste was found inside four of the whale s. Sperm whales found dead in germany, stomachs full of plastic and car parts news, wildlife according to a press release from wadden sea national park in schleswigholstein, many of the whales had stomachs full of plastic debris, including a meterlong fishing net, a 70 cm piece of plastic from a car and other pieces of plastic litter. Apr 20, 2018 other whales dying from plastic pollution this male sperm whale isnt the only one affected by plastic pollution. A sperm whales heart weighs about the same as two average adult male humans 125 kg, 275 pounds. An autopsy revealed that the whales had all died of heart failure. Constantly common dolphins delphinus delphis, striped dolphins stenella coeruleoalba, bottlenose dolphins tursiops truncatus and pilot whales globicephala melas, but also killer whales orcas orcinus orca, sperm whales physeter. Whaling is no longer a major threat and its population is still recovering.
It is the only living member of the genus physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus kogia. Groups were stratified by size, with the smaller animals stranding in the netherlands, and the largest in england. Apr 12, 2018 inside the belly of the juvenile sperm whale was nearly 30kg of plastic. Feb 03, 2017 this beached whales stomach was filled with plastic bags ingestion of manmade material was the probable cause of death of a whale stranded off norway, an autopsy finds. A sperm whale which died after stranding on the isle of harris had a 100kg litter ball in its stomach. Sperm whales found dead in germany, stomachs full of plastic and car parts 5% discount coupon. Inside the belly of the juvenile sperm whale was nearly 30kg of plastic.
The necropsy report has been finally released, and the result is both sad and disturbing. Schleswigholstein environment minister robert habeck holds debris found inside beached sperm whales in a picture posted to instagram. Postmortem on thirteen beached sperm whales found their. Whales dying from plastic pollution are a grave reminder. A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on facebook and twitter which claim it shows two dead sperm whales in germany after their stomachs filled with plastic and car parts. Jul 28, 2019 get all the latest news and updates on sperm whales in germany only on. Sperm whale, the largest of the toothed whales, easily recognized by its enormous square head and narrow lower jaw.
This isnt the first time a sperm whale has been found dead with innards full of inedible contents. The dead animal, which was eight meters 26 feet long, washed up on a. This male sperm whale isnt the only one affected by plastic pollution. Beached sperm whales died with stomachs full of plastic. Beached sperm whales in germany found full of plastic. Mar 08, 2016 twentynine sperm whales were found stranded on shores around the north sea, an area that is too shallow for the marine wildlife. Jul 28, 2019 a photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on facebook and twitter which claim it shows two dead sperm whales in germany after their stomachs filled with plastic and car parts. It is dark bluegray or brownish, with white patches on the belly. Jan 23, 2018 the cameraman tried to take the plastic bucket from the young whales mouth, only to be tagged in the game and dragged downwards through the ocean by the calf.
Since january, 29 sperm whales have washed up dead on the shores of holland, germany, france and the uk but its still unclear how the whales got into difficulty in the first place. Stomachs of dead sperm whales found in germany filled with plastics, car parts. Whales are starving their stomachs full of our plastic. Emotional blue planet chief reveals incredible truth behind. A plastic container in murky waters could resemble a fish to a toothed whale, or a sperm whale may inadvertently swallow plastic garbage as it hunts for a meal. Sperm whales found dead in german stomachs full of plastic. Whales found dead with stomachs full of plastic and car. Whaling greatly reduced the sperm whale population. Sperm whales washed up in germany had plastic waste in. Plastic is one of the worst enemies of marine species, the world wildlife fund said.
Picture of the plastic contains in the sperm whale. Sperm whales found dead with stomachs full of plastic and car. But no one quite understands why whales are eating plastic in the first place. Sperm whales washed up in germany had plastic waste in their. Sperm whales found dead in germany, stomachs full of plastic and car parts may 11, 2016 by admin leave a comment twentynine sperm whales were found stranded on shores around the north sea, an area that is too shallow for the marine wildlife. In 2016, for instance, researches found plastic debris in the stomachs of thirteen sperm whales that died off the cost of germany. There had been one pilot whale found dead in thailand after having consumed about eighty bags of plastic. In germany, a pair of sperm whales was found and the same story repeats. According to a press release from wadden sea national park, the stomachs of four out of the whales that were stranded on the north sea coast were full plastic debris and car parts. Rexshutterstock earlier this year, severely malnourished sperm whales beached in schleswigholstein, germany nobody knew. The list below is in reverse chronological order and is not. Whale is found dead in italy with 48 pounds of plastic in. Sperm whales found dead in germany, stomachs full of plas. After a necropsy of the whales in germany, researchers found that four of the thirteen sperm whales had large amounts of plastic waste in their stomach.
The sperm whales beached themselves in a town called tonning, on germany s north sea coastline. In 2016, 29 sperm whales were found washed up on the shores around germany, france, the u. In 2011, a young whale was found floating dead off the greek island of mykonos. Beached sperm whales in germany found full of plastic debris. Postmortem on thirteen dead sperm whales finds their. Twentynine sperm whales were found stranded on shores around the north sea, an area that is too shallow for the marine wildlife. Out of all the european nations, the highest demand for plastic is in germany, according to plasticseurope. Whales dying from plastic pollution are a grave reminder to. To learn from the sperm whales of the caribbean as to better help conserve and protect the populations and cultural diversity of cetaceans worldwide. Jun 03, 2016 the sperm whales beached themselves in a town called tonning, on germanys north sea coastline.
A necropsy on dead sperm whales that washed up on the shore of germany earlier this year revealed the illfated giants had an array of plastics in their stomachs, according to researchers. According to a press release from wadden sea national park. Plasticfilled sperm whale carcass washes ashore in. Sperm whales found dead with stomachs full of plastic and car parts until humans learn the value of living sustainably while respecting all life forms, travesties such as this one will continue to. Advertisement according to a press release from wadden sea national park in schleswigholstein. The sperm whales washed up near the german state of schleswigholstein earlier this year, the latest in a series of whale strandings. This was a result of mistakenly swimming into the north sea, likely in search of squid, and then not being able to support their own body weights in the shallow water. Two whales found dead in germany, stomachs full of plastic and car parts. Dead sperm whales found with stomach full of car parts and. A mythical albino sperm whale was immortalized in herman melvilles moby dick, though ahabs nemesis was apparently based on. Unknown tentsile twentynine sperm whales were found stranded on shores around the north sea, an area that is too shallow for the marine wildlife. The alarming trend of beached whales filled with plastic. Sperm whales found dead in germany, stomachs full of plastic.
The garbage included a 43footlong shrimp fishing net, a plastic engine car cover, and the remains of a plastic bucket 4. According to a press release from wadden sea national park in schleswigholstein, many of the whales had stomachs full of plastic debris, including a meterlong fishing net, a 70 cm piece of plastic from a car and. About 60 per cent of the worlds recorded sperm whale strandings occur in three regions tasmania, new zealand and the north sea. In 2016, fishing gear and an engine cover from a car were found inside the stomachs of sperm whales that beached themselves on germanys north sea coast 3.
Sperm whales found dead in germany, stomachs full of plastic and car parts. Michael turkay, senckenberg research institut frankfurt, germany. The researchers believe that the young bulls, all between 1015 years old, may have entered the north sea by mistake. Mar 29, 2016 a necropsy on dead sperm whales that washed up on the shore of germany earlier this year revealed the illfated giants had an array of plastics in their stomachs, according to researchers. Details of the animals necropsy were released, and when it was, scientists were deeply disturbed by their findings. Apr 25, 2017 throughout january and february, sperm whales found themselves stranded along the north sea coast of schleswigholstein, and while heart failure due to mistakenly venturing into the shallow north sea has been ruled as the cause of death, the medical examinations turned up a harsh reality after a very unsettling amount of indigestible plastic.