Humpback whale deaths increase in Western Australia

A surge in humpback whale strandings in Western Australia is believed to be linked to the poor nutrition of the animals, veterinary researchers have revealed.

There has been a sharp rise in humpback whales stranding and dying on the shore annually on the west Australian coast since 2008. Poor nutrition could be caused by an increase in the commercial fishing of krill — which humpback whales eat almost exclusively in Antarctica —and also the impact of climate warming on krill numbers.

Humpback whales migrate annually between Antarctic waters and the Australian coast, making their way north for breeding in warmer waters during the southern hemisphere winter.