http://query.nytimes.com/mem/tnt.html?
oref=login&tntget=2005/01/18/science/18whale.html&tntemail0
When I first encountered this article I was reacting to the fact the weather in Wilmington, North Carolina was fairly mild most of the time and displaced the reality it was actully January 2005. The Fin Whales would normally be feeding at the Equator and not breeding, giving birth and lactating in the cold waters of Iceland.
The twelve Pilot Whales brought to UNCW for necropsies today from the Outer Banks stranding of over 30 whales of the same species is resulting in primarily healthy whales that somehow lost their way.
Normally this time of year these beautiful and magnificent marine mammals are at the equator feeding and frolicking. But, there has been several strandings now along the shores of North America in the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream that indicate to me these mammals are stranding because they are lost. They believe they have found their ususal 'wintering over' grounds when in fact they are far more north than they should be. It is not unusual to have an occassional stranding in Massachusetts but never before have I hear of a Fin Whale stranding there. This mammal believed it had found the equatorial waters when in fact it hadn't. This particular Fin Whale 'looks' to be under weight as well which leads me to believe it's feeding from last year was barely holding up for it's return trip south again.
The species most endangered are more 'in danger' than ever before due to Global Warming and Climate Change. These are some examples. The entry regarding the Pilot Whales is below.
