There are already 30 dead whales in southern Argentina

Argentine Whale Conservation Institute (ICB) reported that 30 whales have already been found dead on the coast of Golfo Nuevo, in the province of Chubut (south), from September 24 to date.

The ICB reported that as of October 13, another 12 dead whales were found in southern Argentina, in addition to the 18 already found this season. Of the 30 reported deaths, 26 are adult whales and four juveniles.

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According to the ICB report, the new bodies sighted are not from recent deaths, but from dead specimens that remained floating in the sea for several days until they were dragged by the winds towards the coast.

The causes of death have not yet been confirmed, while the results of the analysis of the samples collected from the corpses for laboratory study are awaited.

However, there are indications that the deaths could be due to the red tide, even a proliferation of microalgae that are toxic. Whales feed on copepods, tiny crustaceans that are part of the zooplankton.

“The whale is a great filter feeder, it eats that way, and, when looking for copepods, it also introduces microalgae loaded with toxins into the body,” biologist Mariano Coscarella, a researcher at the National Patagonian Center, told Télam.

The red tide phenomenon is common in the area. “You cannot prevent or predict the degree of toxicity or how long it will last, it is a cycle, and now we hope it will end,” said the director of Flora and Fauna Silvestre Chubut, Fernando Bersano, according to Página 12’s report.

According to Télam, in 2015 and 2021 there were also several deaths due to the red tide, but not in such a short period of time as has happened in recent weeks.

With information from Sputnik