Beaked whale deaths in Scotland puzzle experts
A five-fold increase in the number of stranded Cuvier’s beaked whales washing up on the shores around the west coast of Scotland over December has caused concern in the region. An unusually large number of beaked whales have been found dead on local beaches over the past couple of weeks but are too decomposed for cause of death to be revealed.
Cuvier’s beaked whales are the deepest diving of all whales and dolphins and usually hunt for food many miles off shore. Theories for these strandings range from disease to noise pollution in the area (use of high frequency sonar).
