Madagascar: calf strandings push authorities to improve alert protocol
Researcher Anjara Saloma analyzes the latest photos received of the humpback whale discovered on a beach in Mahajanga last weekend.
Despite its advanced state of decomposition, the species is recognizable thanks to its long pectoral fin which is still clearly visible.
© Sarah Tetaud/RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Since July, the start of the whale season in Madagascar, 12 humpback whales have been stranded on the Malagasy coast.
Faced with the excitement aroused among Internet users by these repeated phenomena, the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy has just organized a consultation bringing together the various actors specializing in cetaceans.
The goal: to set up an effective information feedback network so that scientists can try to correctly analyze the reasons for these deaths.
RFI was able to speak with one of the two cetologists on the island, consulted by the ministry.
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With our correspondent in Antananarivo
,
Sarah Tétaud
“
That is the whale that was found on September 10 in Majunga and which is already in an advanced state of putrefaction.
On her computer, Anjara Saloma, doctor of biology and cetacean specialist, scrolls through the photos of the two marine mammals found stranded on Malagasy beaches this Sunday.
According to her, these cases of stranding are not alarming for the moment.
“
Strandings happen every year.
These are natural phenomena, there have always been some in Mada.
But also in the area of the southwest Indian Ocean.
These are strandings of isolated individuals, only calves that measure between 4 and 7 meters.
»
Researchers recorded a particularly high spike in births this year near the island's shores.
A significant event according to the cetologist.
"
So in relation to this data, there may be cases of stillbirths, cases of stranding of young people who are weak and who die... So we can say that if there are more births, we can naturally observe more stranded individuals.
»
The scientist nevertheless recognizes that several anthropogenic factors, such as overfishing or marine and noise pollution can disorient cetaceans and lead to their loss.
Also, in the future, to be able to determine with certainty the causes of these strandings, it would be essential to intervene on the spot when the animal is discovered on the beach.
“
Ideally, at the national level, it is the establishment of a stranding network which would consist of setting up observers and people who could intervene precisely when there are cases of stranding like that. .
At the appropriate time, in order to be able to make a first identification and report the right information to the competent authorities and to the scientists since they are the ones who will carry out the analyzes and evaluations and the necessary autopsies if necessary.
These sentinels can be anyone, starting from the municipality, the gendarmerie, civil society.
A boatman, a fisherman passing by the beach.
You just need to be trained to have the right reflexes and the right gestures when faced with the stranded animal.
»
This approach, which would therefore improve research, has just been validated by the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy.
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