BInvestigation into Mass Stranding of Over 100 Pilot Whales in Somalia.
Following the stranding of 100 plus pilot whales last week in Bosaso Puntaland State Government of Somalia emergency meetings and data gathering took place with government officials on the ground communicating their findings to the International Whaling Commission Stranding Initiative.
Mass strandings, which often involve ‘blackfish’ such as pilot and false-killer whales, lead to the beaching of 2 or more individuals (sometimes hundreds) at the same time.
The important take home from this tragic event is that the stranding was immediately reported to relevant networks, including members of IndoCet and the IWC Strandings Expert Panel so that a coordinated response could be launched.
Collaborative actions are critical for supporting regional partners who often lack the tools and resources for responding to these events. They also greatly improve potential outcomes, providing essential data that are event specific, that are useful for improving the assessment of threats, as well improving our basic understanding of regional species ecology.
Investigations continue.
Contributor: Jane Spilsbury, Tim Collins
