HUNDREDS OF MELON-HEADED WHALES LOST IN MANILA BAY
by Captain David Williams
Deafwhale Society, Inc.
On 10 February 2009, the BBC (link) reported that several hundred melon-headed whales were swimming around in circles apparently lost in Manila Bay.
The Deafwhale Society suggest that the large pod was injured (barotrauma) by pressure waves generated when the seafloor bounced up and down during a swarm of undersea earthquakes that occurred along the drop-off ledge of Papua, Indonesia (link).
The sudden pressure changes above the epicenter causes damage to the pterygoid sinuses which aids the function of biosonar and diving; dolphins with earthquake-induced barotrauma can neither dive to feed themselves due to pain, nor can they echonavigate due to blood and body fluids inside the pterygoid sinuses. These sinuses protect the whale's inner ear and allow underwater sounds to strike the ear from only one direction. If the sinuses not longer contain air, but instead collapse or fill with blood, sound can penetrate to the inner ear from all directions effectively knocking out biosonar as a tool for navigation.
Without a sense of direction, the pods travel path is controlled by the current.
Pods can sense the shallow water and avoid stranding using visual clues. We find that this visual ability to avoid a stranding usually fails after about 3 to 4 weeks at sea without food and fresh water. After this point of no return, the injured (non-navigating) pod losses its ability to avoid the beach. Everything depends on the speed and flow of the surface currents. and the condition of the whales.
We also find that the pods stranding within 3 to 4 weeks of the injury are far more likely to survive than those that hit the beach 5 to 6 weeks after injury.
We searched the US Geological Service's data bank and got the following results:
FILE CREATED: Tue Feb 10 22:48:30 2009 Circle Search Earthquakes= 122 Circle Center Point Latitude: 0.410S Longitude: 132.800E Radius: 150.000 km Catalog Used: PDE Date Range: 2008/12/15 to 2009/01/30 Magnitude Range: 1.0 - 8.0 Depth Range: 0 - 500 Data Selection: Historical & Preliminary Data
CAT YEAR MO DA ORIG TIME LAT LONG DEP MAGNITUDE IEM DTSVNWG DIST
NFO km
TF
PDE-W 2008 12 21 044604.03 -0.40 132.35 72 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 49 PDE-Q 2009 01 02 203431.41 -0.97 132.51 169 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 69 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 194350.67 -0.41 132.88 17 7.6 MwUCMT 6CM .T..... 9 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 195237.72 -0.55 133.46 10 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 74 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 195315.21 -0.57 133.38 10 5.7 mbGS ... ....... 67 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 195452.15 -0.41 132.94 10 5.1 mbGS ... ....... 15 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 195808.86 -0.39 132.36 10 5.0 mbGS ... ....... 49 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 195941.92 -0.21 133.38 10 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 67 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 200030.33 -0.29 133.07 10 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 33 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 200256.95 -0.61 133.03 10 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 34 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 200417.12 -0.51 133.02 10 5.0 mbGS ... ....... 26 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 200711.65 -0.58 133.02 10 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 30 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 201255.43 -0.27 133.06 10 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 32 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 202130.76 -0.28 132.59 10 5.2 mbGS ... ....... 27 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 202645.93 -0.32 132.73 10 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 12 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 203009.11 -0.36 132.61 10 5.1 mbGS ... ....... 22 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 203506.20 -0.66 133.29 10 5.0 mbGS ... ....... 60 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 203641.43 -0.28 132.76 10 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 15 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 203832.08 -0.65 133.40 10 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 71 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 203916.01 -0.38 132.90 10 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 11 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 204115.17 -0.26 132.67 10 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 21 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 204401.26 -0.34 132.61 10 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 22 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 204705.55 -0.22 132.85 10 4.3 mbGS ... ....... 21 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 204731.32 -0.26 132.84 10 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 16 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 205004.30 -0.25 132.44 10 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 43 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 210055.54 -0.70 133.57 35 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 91 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 213044.67 -0.52 133.10 35 5.0 mbGS ... ....... 34 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 213554.84 -0.69 133.45 35 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 78 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 214931.69 -0.33 132.88 35 5.6 mbGS 4F. ....... 12 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 215259.30 -0.31 133.04 35 5.2 mbGS ... ....... 28 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 220319 -0.40 132.51 35 5.0 mbGS ... ....... 32 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 220747.49 -0.28 132.87 35 5.2 mbGS ... ....... 16 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 222347.72 -0.50 132.16 35 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 71 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 223340.27 -0.71 133.34 23 7.4 MwGCMT 7CM ....... 68 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 230104.15 -0.51 133.22 35 5.2 mbGS ... ....... 48 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 232612.60 -0.58 133.58 35 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 88 PDE-Q 2009 01 03 233604.36 -0.41 133.83 35 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 114 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 000038.13 -0.69 133.27 35 5.4 mbGS ... ....... 60 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 000511.52 -0.20 132.99 35 5.2 mbGS ... ....... 31 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 002509.47 -0.36 133.31 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 56 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 004029.75 -0.66 133.66 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 99 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 005535.81 -0.18 132.87 35 5.1 mbGS ... ....... 26 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 010256.27 -0.73 133.51 35 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 86 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 015209.78 -0.39 132.83 35 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 3 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 015523.39 -0.73 133.55 20 5.3 mbGS ... ....... 90 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 021038.75 -0.54 132.63 24 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 23 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 022900.70 -0.69 133.58 23 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 91 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 024713.88 -0.23 132.73 32 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 21 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 024918.12 -0.34 132.52 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 31 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 032703.30 -0.64 133.85 35 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 119 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 032829.52 -0.66 133.51 31 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 84 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 033648.24 -0.29 132.71 35 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 16 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 040948.33 -0.76 133.14 29 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 53 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 043126.19 -0.28 132.80 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 14 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 043431.63 -0.69 133.64 35 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 98 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 054404.43 -0.67 133.20 31 5.3 mbGS 7F. ....... 53 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 060515.79 -0.66 134.04 35 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 140 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 062939.11 -0.70 133.71 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 106 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 065340.61 -0.24 132.90 35 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 21 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 071035.50 -0.28 132.68 35 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 19 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 071400.56 -0.40 132.76 35 5.9 MwGCMT ..M ....... 4 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 073300.79 -0.71 133.60 35 5.0 mbGS ... ....... 94 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 074445.80 -0.38 132.90 35 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 11 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 081211.74 -0.73 133.49 35 5.0 mbGS ... ....... 84 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 085433.38 -0.29 133.10 35 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 35 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 105350.11 -0.33 133.06 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 29 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 110850.52 -0.79 133.22 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 63 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 114054.02 -0.26 132.73 35 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 18 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 114949.50 -0.68 133.84 35 5.0 mbGS ... ....... 118 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 124856.82 -0.51 132.98 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 23 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 125517.52 -0.31 133.17 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 42 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 125940.20 -0.34 132.47 35 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 37 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 130633.14 -0.60 132.71 47 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 23 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 131048.09 -0.22 132.71 35 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 23 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 154305.79 -0.71 133.46 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 80 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 171311.40 -0.74 133.08 35 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 48 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 193339.66 -1.04 133.76 6 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 126 PDE-Q 2009 01 04 233934.49 -0.41 132.97 38 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 19 PDE-Q 2009 01 05 004433.38 -0.37 132.22 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 64 PDE-Q 2009 01 05 013701.61 -0.47 132.45 35 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 39 PDE-Q 2009 01 05 084032.65 -0.47 132.03 35 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 85 PDE-Q 2009 01 05 094020.50 -0.35 132.89 35 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 12 PDE-Q 2009 01 05 132243.07 -0.40 131.98 26 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 91 PDE-Q 2009 01 05 152822.21 -0.76 133.48 29 5.0 mbGS ... ....... 84 PDE-Q 2009 01 05 192403.42 -0.68 133.26 35 5.3 mbGS ... ....... 59 PDE-Q 2009 01 05 211834.14 -0.37 133.15 26 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 38 PDE-Q 2009 01 06 003425.39 -0.49 131.93 35 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 97 PDE-Q 2009 01 06 031828.33 -1.07 133.46 35 5.1 mbGS ... ....... 103 PDE-Q 2009 01 06 072334.33 -1.03 133.51 45 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 104 PDE-Q 2009 01 06 074900.08 -0.70 134.01 35 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 138 PDE-Q 2009 01 06 075002.29 -0.65 132.90 35 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 28 PDE-Q 2009 01 06 162808.64 -0.42 132.74 35 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 6 PDE-Q 2009 01 06 195624.36 -0.56 132.79 10 5.3 MwGS ..M ....... 16 PDE-Q 2009 01 06 201211.13 -0.75 133.25 25 5.0 mbGS ... ....... 63 PDE-Q 2009 01 06 224732.52 -0.39 132.49 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 35 PDE-Q 2009 01 06 224827.25 -0.66 133.43 16 6.0 MwUCMT 4FM ....... 75 PDE-Q 2009 01 07 025439.50 -0.72 133.27 35 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 62 PDE-Q 2009 01 07 150247.51 -0.41 132.85 35 5.0 mbGS ... ....... 6 PDE-Q 2009 01 07 211530.89 -0.48 131.96 54 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 93 PDE-Q 2009 01 07 233850.54 -0.64 132.94 41 5.1 mbGS 3F. ....... 29 PDE-Q 2009 01 08 161850.83 -0.41 132.93 23 5.5 MwGCMT 3FM ....... 14 PDE-Q 2009 01 09 015830.27 -0.73 133.79 35 4.5 mbGS ... ....... 115 PDE-Q 2009 01 09 062313.79 -0.81 133.39 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 79 PDE-Q 2009 01 09 143522.32 -0.71 133.78 35 5.2 mbGS 4F. ....... 113 PDE-Q 2009 01 10 021615.39 -0.33 132.36 38 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 49 PDE-Q 2009 01 10 221756.09 -0.45 132.82 35 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 4 PDE-Q 2009 01 11 121718.23 -0.41 133.40 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 67 PDE-Q 2009 01 11 141555.16 -0.75 133.55 30 5.0 mbGS 3F. ....... 91 PDE-Q 2009 01 11 181306.49 -0.58 132.97 83 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 26 PDE-Q 2009 01 13 144633.41 -0.83 133.40 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 80 PDE-Q 2009 01 14 042600.72 -0.69 133.32 35 4.6 mbGS ... ....... 65 PDE-Q 2009 01 14 071901.98 -0.78 133.15 35 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 56 PDE-Q 2009 01 14 184632.36 -0.36 132.31 38 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 55 PDE-Q 2009 01 15 233804.70 -0.48 133.02 35 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 25 PDE-Q 2009 01 15 235236.64 -0.28 132.66 35 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 20 PDE-Q 2009 01 15 235848.87 -0.56 132.72 35 4.7 mbGS ... ....... 18 PDE-Q 2009 01 18 042723.65 -0.32 132.34 63 4.7 mbGS 2F. ....... 52 PDE-Q 2009 01 19 001456.57 -0.44 131.90 29 5.0 mbGS 3F. ....... 100 PDE-Q 2009 01 19 002136.33 -0.50 131.89 45 4.8 mbGS 4F. ....... 101 PDE-Q 2009 01 19 010629.44 -0.23 132.83 35 5.1 mbGS ... ....... 20 PDE-Q 2009 01 20 095333.61 -0.75 133.17 35 4.9 mbGS ... ....... 55 PDE-Q 2009 01 22 072018.88 -0.33 132.82 35 4.8 mbGS ... ....... 9