Read this Sad Story of the Tragic Death of a Killer Whale
Picture: Patrick Browne via Irish Mirror
By Erin McKinney
It’s a sad reminder that away from the round the clock care of a marine facility or zoo, our oceans can be unforgiving place.
An adult female killer whale recently washed up on an Irish beach over the weekend. She was discovered by residents and examined by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IDWG). The whale was approximately 16 feet long, and her teeth were drastically worn.
Picture: Patrick Browne
The cause of death? Malnutrition.
“The animal was in very fresh condition and all her teeth were very worn – this may have resulted in her death perhaps from malnutrition or infection. This stranding comes at the end of a month which has seen a disturbingly high number of stranded cetaceans around the Irish coast” the IDWG said in a statement on their website.
Picture: Patrick Browne
The post-mortem of the whale is scheduled and the skeleton will be preserved and displayed locally, as a reminder of the whales that roam the local waters.
While the recent orca deaths of J-32 Rhapsody and her unborn calf, as well as L53 Luna, are all evidence of the drastic situation facing the Southern Residents, this stranding is yet another confirmation that the oceans are a wild and sometimes unforgiving place.
And as the debate over SeaWorld’s orcas rages on, one fact is abundantly clear.
No killer whale at SeaWorld will ever die from malnutrition.
In fact, no animal at any accredited United States facility will ever die from malnutrition.
It’s also a reminder that marine parks are stepping up to help wild killer whales through direct funding and research to help these flagging populations. Humans are helping to cause some of the problems, so its good to see some engaging to help stop them.
