02-11-2017, 09:06 PM
Update: Tragically, the total is now 650. I just found these, following a search of the net:
http://townhall.com/news/world/2017/02/1...d-n2284570
and this:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38942763
In the last article you cited, Catherine, I found this quote:
"Project Jonah coordinator Mark Rigby said he could not comment on the reasons for the stranding. 'All we know is it keeps happening. There will be people who will argue that it's natural. We're here for the welfare of the animals'."
"There will be people who will argue that it's natural"....hmm, that sounds like he doesn't quite believe that himself. These groundings are becoming more frequent and more serious each year. If it were just nature, the numbers should stay stable. There is something else causing these ever more frequent, ever more serious groundings.
There is an excellent article here:
http://www.whalefacts.org/why-do-whales-...themselves
I personally am inclined to find the increased use of sonar to be the culprit. It used to be used by specialist scientists and researchers. Now it is commonplace for fishing boats to use them all the time, so that they can locate fish shoals quickly and make a "quick buck". Whales are easily disorientated by such signals.
To be honest, I don't think that the fishing vessels are the slightest bit worried. They regard the whales as a nuisance, as they eat fish and seafood which they want to catch. Their motto? "Pecunia est valde maxima".
http://townhall.com/news/world/2017/02/1...d-n2284570
and this:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38942763
In the last article you cited, Catherine, I found this quote:
"Project Jonah coordinator Mark Rigby said he could not comment on the reasons for the stranding. 'All we know is it keeps happening. There will be people who will argue that it's natural. We're here for the welfare of the animals'."
"There will be people who will argue that it's natural"....hmm, that sounds like he doesn't quite believe that himself. These groundings are becoming more frequent and more serious each year. If it were just nature, the numbers should stay stable. There is something else causing these ever more frequent, ever more serious groundings.
There is an excellent article here:
http://www.whalefacts.org/why-do-whales-...themselves
I personally am inclined to find the increased use of sonar to be the culprit. It used to be used by specialist scientists and researchers. Now it is commonplace for fishing boats to use them all the time, so that they can locate fish shoals quickly and make a "quick buck". Whales are easily disorientated by such signals.
To be honest, I don't think that the fishing vessels are the slightest bit worried. They regard the whales as a nuisance, as they eat fish and seafood which they want to catch. Their motto? "Pecunia est valde maxima".
