Stranded animals on beaches

Snowc

With the high seas there is numerous reports of animals being washed up on beaches ,sickening :mad:

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

The saddest was probably the Fin whale on Achill on Christmas day. Many others species were successfully rescued - such as baby dolphins. Its unfortunate but natural. All we can do is help as many as we can and I'd ask people to ensure they report any strandings promptly.

Kess73

Might be taking the OP up wrong, but I think he or she may be referring to the number of domestic animals that have been washed on on sea shores and river banks in recent weeks.


I know in Limerick alone there was a newspaper reporting that at least seven horses fell foul of the recent flooding along with a good number of dogs.

fryup

what do dolphins & whales usually do during storms?? do they go to areas of the sea that are calmer??

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

fryup wrote: »

what do dolphins & whales usually do during storms?? do they go to areas of the sea that are calmer??

They stay in deeper water. A few feet down can be much calmer than you'd imagine. They surface as little as possible for air during the storm but babies can get swept away at this time. Hence a greater loss of babies during storms. Interestingly, dolphins have been shown to have more calves in the 2 years after major storms or hurricanes.

gzoladz

Srameen, do you mind me asking where all your knowledge on these matters comes from?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

gzoladz wrote: »

Srameen, do you mind me asking where all your knowledge on these matters comes from?

Just from years of studying and a lifetime of curiosity and interest in all things Nature. I'm dreadful at identifying waders or gulls though! I can never remember which moths or which and fungus always has to be looked up after finding some on a walk. Facts and figures stick for some reason though.

dodderangler

Walter Faint Sodium wrote: »

They stay in deeper water. A few feet down can be much calmer than you'd imagine. They surface as little as possible for air during the storm but babies can get swept away at this time. Hence a greater loss of babies during storms. Interestingly, dolphins have been shown to have more calves in the 2 years after major storms or hurricanes.

I'd assume that'd have something to do with the storms stirring up food for smaller species of fish meaning a lot more food about for dolphins this leading to healthy breeding and calves standing more chances of surviving

Mickeroo

dodderangler wrote: »

I'd assume that'd have something to do with the storms stirring up food for smaller species of fish meaning a lot more food about for dolphins this leading to healthy breeding and calves standing more chances of surviving

They actually reckon it's a direct knock on from lots of calves being killed by the storms :

After a female dolphin loses her calf, she can give birth again much sooner than if her calf had matured to adulthood. “If a large number of calves perished as a result of Hurricane Katrina” the researchers say, “this would allow for a greater percentage of females in the population to become reproductively active the following year.”

Full article here: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/2012/08/31/what-do-hurricanes-mean-for-dolphins/

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

dodderangler wrote: »

I'd assume that'd have something to do with the storms stirring up food for smaller species of fish meaning a lot more food about for dolphins this leading to healthy breeding and calves standing more chances of surviving

Oh not at all! The loss of a pup is akin to it being weened so the mother is ready for another pup earlier than is usual.