In 2021 and 2023, hundreds of common dolphins were stranded in shallow waters in San Antonio Bay in northern Patagonia. Some died, many returned safely to the sea. But what remained a mystery until now was how they ended up stuck on sandbanks in the first place; however, a new study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science suggests that orcas may be to blame.
Marine mammals have been getting stranded in mass mortality events for millions of years, but scientists still debate why they happen. Necropsies from 38 dead animals from the 2021 event showed they had good body condition and no significant disease or injuries. Their stomachs contained no recent meals – suggesting they weren’t chasing prey. In the past five years, common dolphins have stranded three times in northern Patagonia, something that hadn’t happened previously, prompting an investigation. Cases probably occur across the globe and just haven’t been documented yet.
