Bryde’s Whales dying in False Bay (Cape Town, South Africa)
In Feb 2019 I reported on two sightings of Bryde’s Whale in False Bay near Cape Town. Further sad news on this species in the bay is that two have died this year after becoming caught in octopus fishing lines, with a total of at least 8 deaths here over the last 5 years; more information on these whales and the deaths here (by Swati Thiyagarajan) and here (by Scott Ramsay). Other whales have also become caught in these lines which can be up to 20 km long and connected to fishing pots on the ocean floor via heavy chains and leaded ropes. The last death was near Miller’s Point just past Simonstown.
3 Comments
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Paul Carter
Hi Clive. No Hooded Vultures on the South African coast and these were entrapments in metal cables/lines and not death by stranding; so once the body is removed from the cable line they tow them in to shore and bury them; I did wonder why they are not left for the the food-chain. Rgds, Paul
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Clive R Barlow
do hooded vultures gather on these cetacean strandings in SA – here in The Gambia its an important albeit irregular food source