On the shores of a remote inlet in Patagonia, Chile, 337 whales were found dead due to reasons yet to be found out.
The Dodo reports scientists are startled by what they called the biggest die-off in history. The carcasses found in June were believed to be sei whales, which are already considered endangered.
According to National Geographic, sei whales are large baleen whales that could reach about 64 feet in length and 50 tons in weight. These bluish-gray sea mammals are known to be the fastest cetaceans, swimming up to 50 kilometers per hour. Usually found in deep waters and away from coastlines, sei whales could live up to 50-70 years.
Although researchers are still unsure of what have caused the die-off, lead scientist Carolina Simon Gutstein from the Universidad de Chile and Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales in Santiago said there have been earlier deaths caused by red tide. The harmful phenomenon is characterized by an "algal bloom" that releases toxins in water.
The government of Chile has already launched an investigation to figure out the real cause of these deaths.
The decrease in population of sei whales was prompted by the rising industry of commercial whaling. In the past three generations, 80% of mature sei whales have lost their lives, leaving an estimated number of 80,000 left worldwide.
Just last week, the hacker group Anonymous attacked five websites ran by the Islandic government, which along with Japan and Norway, has been the world's biggest whale slaughterers.
"Whales do not have a voice. We will be a voice for them. Its time to speak out about this impending extinction of a species," the group said. "Its time to let Iceland know we will not stand by and watch as they drive this animal to extinction."
The Dodo adds most of Iceland's slaughters are sold to Japan.
