Three sperm whales stranded off P.E.I.’s North Shore have faced tragic outcomes, with the latest whale succumbing after the first two had already perished, revealed Tonya Wimmer, the executive director of the Marine Animal Response Society. The decision to allow nature to take its course and let the animals pass peacefully was made in the interest of the animals’ welfare and human safety, as expressed by Wimmer during an interview on CBC Radio’s As It Happens.
Initially observed on Saturday night near Hardys Channel close to East Bideford in western P.E.I., the three young male whales, each weighing between 15 and 20 tonnes, were in distress. Wimmer emphasized the challenges in assisting such large animals, noting the limited options available due to their massive size.
Sperm whales are typically found in deep offshore waters, around 800 meters deep, where they showcase their remarkable diving abilities to hunt deep-sea prey like squid. The unusual presence of these whales in shallow waters raised concerns as it deviated from their natural habitat and behavior patterns.
As the situation unfolds, the Marine Animal Response Society aims to conduct a necropsy on at least one of the stranded sperm whales. This postmortem examination could provide insights into whether there were underlying health issues contributing to their plight or if they simply became disoriented and strayed off course.