Case Study and Case Report 2017; 7(3): 76 - 82.

Yunus M, Purwahidayat A, Srianto P, Mufasirin, Legowo D, Ferdiansyah H. Analysis of the

cause of Cetacean “short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus)” strandings on

Probolinggo Coast, East Java Province, Indonesia. Case Study Case Rep. 2017; 7(3): 76 - 82.

ABSTRACT

Indonesian waters is one of the habitat and simultaneously a migration path so many different

species of mammals of Cetacean (whales and dolphins) and Sirenia. Whales and dolphins are

a group of aquatic animals that are often washed up on the shores of Indonesia. Strandings of

marine mammals requires fast action and precise handling, particularly those that are still

alive so it can be saved, as a safeguard and preservation. The researchers do not have a

definitive reason why stranded marine mammals, but there are many theories and analytical

approach through the predictions are used to determine the cause. The social life of animals,

bad weather, extreme ocean waves and animals follow prey to the beach are some of the most

likely causes. Some of the other causes that have been identified is a disease, a parasitic

infection, the growth of harmful algae, injuries from boat collisions or entangled, trauma,

hunger and military exercises using special sonar. The current of the tides are strong and vary

from day to day, causing indeterminate conditions for navigation are predicted as one of the

causes. Decreased oxygen levels and water salinity are thought to be among the causes that

led dozens of short-finned pilot whales to wash up on a beach in Randupitu village, Gending

district, Probolinggo regency, East Java. Data from the Meteorology, Climatology and

Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Juanda, Surabaya, reveals that it was likely that strong currents

in the northern Java Sea had carried the pilot whales ashore. According to the data, strong

winds of more than 28 knots caused high seas with 2 to 3.5 meter waves. The high waves also

caused oxygen level decreases deep below the surface and lowered water salinity, which was

accompanied with a sea level rise. The BMKG added that these three elements had led deep

water fish to migrate to the surface, leading many of them to become stuck in shallow waters.

Keywords: Pilot whales, analysis, cause, stranding

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