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Three beaked whales found dead in Le Bouchon: experts and environmentalists call for in-depth analyses
By Defimedia.info
Published on: August 8, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Three beaked whales have been found dead on the beach at Le Bouchon in recent days.
The Ministry of Agro-Industry is favoring the theory of disorientation, but remains cautious. According to initial findings, nothing at this stage allows for a definitive determination of the cause of death of the three whales.
According to the Ministry of Agro-Industry, the National Coast Guard was alerted on August 4th after two whales were found stranded at Le Bouchon. The national protocol was immediately activated and several specialized services were dispatched to the scene.
The animals were identified as Blainville's beaked whales. Examinations revealed abrasions and skin loss, but no evidence of nets, ropes, or human intervention. Experts also found no signs of a ship collision.
The carcasses were transferred to La Vanille Nature Park, where they will undergo post-mortem examinations. According to Owen Griffiths, director of La Vanille Nature Park, no obvious cause of death has been identified. He also emphasized that both whales were in good physical condition.
On the other hand, the ministry points out that several strandings of Blainville's beaked whales have already been recorded in Mauritius, notably in 1986, 1998 and 2019.
Faced with this situation, experts and environmental advocates are calling for in-depth analyses to shed full light on the causes of these deaths.
According to oceanographer and environmental engineer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo, it is particularly important to determine whether these strandings could be linked to the H5N1 avian influenza virus.
For his part, Krishna Murali, representative of the NGO #Savetheblu, is calling for the publication of the autopsy results as well as the establishment of a national protocol allowing for rapid and coordinated intervention in the event of marine mammal strandings.
https://defimedia.info/trois-balein...rts-et-defenseurs-de-lenvironnement-reclament