Mass stranding happens to whales and dolphins when they are injured or sick and become too weak that they are dragged and pushed by the current to the shore. On occasion, they will also voluntarily swim to shore when they become too sick to stay in the water.
Many are the factors that plague these animals in their natural habitat, which may subsequently create behavioural deviation. Among these are the more long-term difficulties linked to environmental problems such as low food supply, unusually high or low temperatures, pollutants and changes to coastline features. Man-made conditions that cause confusion and injuries such as high-powered sonars involved in naval exercises create panic and the need for flight. Conditions resulting from ecological imbalance such as algal blooms and virus outbreaks similar to the morbillivirus epidemic of 1987 and 1988 in the North Atlantic are also responsible for these mass standings.
Experts puzzle, however, over healthy individuals that take part in these mass strandings. The act of putting the self in danger even when the animal has no reason caused researchers to wonder if these are deliberate attempts at self-harm or even suicide.
This question casts doubts on the original assumption that because whales have a social structure that revolve around families and even extended families, voluntary stranding by healthy animals is an act of social caring toward their family members. Recent findings from genetic analysis of the animals that beached close to each other suggest that they may not always be related at all.
While the findings do not fully dispute the theory of communal consciousness, the mechanisms responsible for this behaviour require further research. Whether borne of intrinsic instincts or complex social behaviours, the fact and the danger of mass stranding remain for both healthy and unhealthy animals.
Meanwhile marine experts continue to find the best and swiftest methods to save and help as many of these animals, especially in such times.
