The discovery of rare parasitic nematodes from a beached pilot whale in Tasmania raises questions about the role of parasites in whale strandings worldwide.
Dr. Shamsi notes that parasites can cause suicide in many animals, suggesting that they might similarly affect the navigation abilities of whales, leading to beach strandings.
The pilot whale that beached itself in 1973 had thousands of parasites that could have eaten away at its blowhole, potentially impairing its ability to navigate.
With around 2,000 whale stranding events globally each year, scientists continue to explore various theories, including illness, severe weather, and disorientation due to loud sounds.
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