Blog 12
22 May 2011 Last updated at 15:42 GMT
Pilot whales leave Loch Carnan following deathSummary
Last week a pilot whale stranded and died in the Hebridian Loch Carnan. The female whale belonged to a pod of circa 60 pilot whales. The pod had been spotted and about one third of the group suffered from head injuries. Post-mortem on the whale showed that the animal did not die of the injuries, but that she has suffered a disease. One is afraid that more whales of the pod are infected and will die as well. Last year 33 whales where found death on a beach in Donegal (the Irish republic). Although Pilot whales live in deep water they do go to the beaches for their main meals.
Opinion
The cause of death is a serious illness was the conclusion of the post-mortem. However the article does not make clear if a virus, bacteria or prion caused it. The stranding and dying of Pilot whales on the beaches is very disturbing especially if one does not know the cause. Since several years research is done after the influence of windmills in sea on the navigation system of Porpoise. There is some evidence that there is more beaching if there are windmills placed in sea near the coast. I do not know if this is the cause in the neighbourhood of Uist. However I think research is necessary to prevent more sea mammals from beaching.
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