Review article

Review of cetacean mortality in the world seas

Petra Pripić ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia *
Tomislav Gomerčić ; Veterinary Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Martina Đuras ; Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Whales (Cetacea) are endangered animals that are
protected by the law in almost all the world’s seas.
One of the important activities in the protection of
these species is the monitoring of the causes of death
with the aim of timely detection and action on negative factors through effective protection measures.
This paper presents the causes of death of whales in
the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea published in recent publications and the causes of death of whales
from other world seas presented in relevant literature
sources. Causes of death in whales are most intensively monitored along the European coast of the Atlantic
Ocean, and the least amount of data is from the areas
along the coasts of the Indian Ocean. Whale carcasses
are often in a high state of decomposition and in this
state they are only suitable for partial post-mortem
examinations. In the overall findings, the proportion of
young compared to adult animals as well as females
compared to males is generally equal, with the exception of some geographical areas where one or the
other age or gender category prevails. Anthropogenic
causes of death make up a significant part of the overall findings, which are most often entanglement in
fishing nets and consequent drowning, collision with
boats, intentional killing, underwater explosions, and
ingestion and injuries from fishing gear. Pneumonia is
the most common cause of natural death in whales.

Keywords

whales; Cetacea; causes of death; world seas

Hrčak ID:

321005

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/321005

Publication date:

2.9.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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