In recent years we have seen a lot of stories with dragged sea creatures by the sea until incompatible zones or habitatsoften because of the effects of temperatures changes in the oceans. However, few, or possibly none, such as the story that is taking place in a remote area of Australia. Even there came more than a hundred dolphins, and most are still alive, but their end seems marked.
Euthanasia. On a remote beach of the Australian island of Tasmania, 157 dolphins were stranded last week. However, environmental authorities have made the difficult decision of Start Euthanasia by shooting at 90 copies on Wednesday They still survived.
The cause? Apparently, The impossibility of successfully returning them to the sea. The main reason for this decision is based on the fact that animals are increasingly stressed, severely affected by extreme environmental conditions, such as constant exposure to the sun and strong winds. Shelley Graham, in charge of managing the incident, has confirmed that, after exhaustive veterinary evaluations, Euthanasia is the only viable alternative to relieve the suffering of animals.
A very difficult rescue. Experts have that the location in which the dolphins were trapped is particularly complicated for rescue work. Kris Carlyon, Marino Biologist, assured the media that it was one of the most complex sites with which it had been found In his 16 years working in Tasmania. The remote beach, located near the mouth of the Arthur River on the west coast of Tasmania, does not have easy access, which greatly complicates rescue efforts.
Last week he tried repeatedly to refloat surviving animals, but without success. The physical characteristics of these dolphinsthat can weigh more than a ton and measure up to six meters in length, make it difficult to return them to the water, since it implies significant risks for both animals and rescuers.
False calderones dolphins. The stranded dolphins have been identified as members of a little studied species popularly known as “false orcas” or “false calderones”named for the shape of their skulls that resemble those of the royal orcs. They are highly social marine mammals, accustomed to forming large groups that often exceed 50 copies.
Not just that. This strong social bond implies that, when a single individual in the group is disoriented or trapped on the coast, it is capable of drag the rest of the group towards the same destination, causing massive variations Like the current one. These events are not unusual in Australia, but it is the first time in 50 years that such a significant one occurs in this specific area of Tasmania.
The science behind these cases. Although these incidents are relatively frequent in the region, scientists still do not know the exact causes that lead these creatures to vary in mass. According to the scientist Marina Vanessa Pirotta, from the moment a cetacean is caught on the beach, A critical countdown to its survival begins.
Tasmania in particular is known as an area especially prone to variations, which could be due to its specific geographical location, complex for the natural navigation of these species. However, the ultimate cause of these incidents remains a mystery. Experts like Carlyon recognize that on many occasions The exact reason is never established whereby these animals reach the beach, and the explanation is usually reduced to collective behavior and group orientation.
Ecological Impact. It is the last of the legs to be treated, the lack of deep knowledge about these dolphins makes the situation even more dramatic. According to information from the Australian government, There are no reliable estimates about the total number of specimens of this species in the wild. The species is classified in Australia as “almost threatened”, which underlines the ecological importance of this incident and the severity of losing so many specimens simultaneously.
Plus: the death of large groups in incidents such as this has the potential of negatively impact the global population of the speciesespecially considering your relative shortage and the few data available on your state of conservation.
Euthanasia in cetaceans. Finally, the euthanasia process in large specimens like these dolphins is not easy. In this regard, Kris Carlyon clarified that Mass euthanasias of large cetaceans are extremely complicated operationspractices that require precise and personal methods highly trained to minimize animal suffering.
In fact, the choice of euthanasia through shots responds to a technical evaluation that considers the speed, effectiveness and lower stress in the execution. A procedure that in most cases It is usually a last resortapplied when there is no other reasonable alternative to save the life of animals. That said, the incident emphasizes the vulnerability of some marine species in the face of little understood natural and anthropogenic phenomena.
Image | Handout/Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
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