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mass stranding
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mass stranding

animal behavior
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Quick Summary

Mass stranding is a phenomenon where large numbers of cetaceans, primarily toothed whales, swim ashore. While some strandings result from normal mortality, mass strandings involve live animals and are not observed in baleen whales.1

The exact causes are not fully understood, but potential factors include disorientation due to environmental changes, disease, pursuit of prey, parasitic infections affecting hearing, or even behavioral reversion. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 led to a significant increase in cetacean strandings and deaths, with studies indicating oil exposure weakened animals and made them more vulnerable to other health issues.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. cetacean - Stranding
  2. Deepwater Horizon oil spill - Environmental costs

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