The grey whale season in Cabo is now over again and the
migration northwards, to the cool summer seas of Alaska, has already begun.
Sergio Gomez, of the National Commission of Natural
Protected Areas (CONANP) was delighted to announce that the season ended with
only one recording of an entangled whale. And this was successfully rescued. This
is an improvement on last year when a total of three out of four entangled
whales were successfully rescued.
Sadly the whale season has not ended as happily in all
parts of Baja California. Last weekend Playa Bufeo in Ensenada, saw a
staggering 34 pilot whales stranded. And despite the best efforts of PROFEPA, SEMAR,
local fishermen and local residents only 9 were saved.
Initially the majority of the whales were successfully steered
back towards deeper waters. However they returned a second time to the shallower
waters near the beach. And as a result many were stranded.
The exact cause of the mass stranding is not yet known. As
there were no visible signs of major injuries it is suspected that some of the whales
must have been disorientated. And the strong
sense of social cohesion which prevents pilot whales from abandoning each other
when in danger, even if it means death, could account for the herd’s return to
the beach.
The authorities, scientific research and conservation
groups are all working hard to determine the exact cause of death.
Evidence and samples are currently being processed and the results will be
submitted to PROFEPA in due course.