Collective whales are not in the same family

A new study published by international scientists said that large whale-catching whales in large groups are not always members of the same whale family.

An international team of scientists has studied 12 mass-stranded whales in Australia and New Zealand to test the hypothesis that healthy whales have run aground when trying to help their members. ill or disoriented and stranded.

After examining the genetic genes of 490 whales, they concluded that the "love" life model above does not exist, because most whales stranded near each other have no relation to each other.

The study, conducted by scientist Marc Oremus of Auckland University in New Zealand, shows that New Zealand is a place where mass whales often occur.

Oremus said that if the relationship plays an important role in whale aggravation, the first thing scientists find will be those close to each other. In addition, scientists also hope to find closely related whales, such as mothers and babies, who must be very close together in mass strands.

A mass of whale fishing on the coast of New Zealand

But the reality is not so. According to scientists' research, the position of each stranded whale has been marked to see if the fish in close proximity are related by blood. As a result, there is no relation between the position of the whale and the blood relation, even with the young whales being cared for by the mother. Usually, the mother and the offspring will be located far away from each other when the whole group rushes to the shore.

Co-author Scott Baker of Oregon State University in the US said that the study, published in Genetic Weekly, shows that whale families are separated from each other in deep waters can be the cause. Bulk stranded.

He pointed out that in the past, people have tried to explain the cause of mass-flowing whales, because they tried to enter shallow, unfamiliar waters, to hunt. When in this strange water, the whale will be disoriented, misjudging the depth of water and stranding. This is considered a key hypothesis.

Another theory is that whales help each other and run aground. But with the second hypothesis being suspected after the results of the group's research, it seems that the first hypothesis remains logical.

But Baker points out that scientists have a different view, which is that there is competition between groups of whales or certain events that disrupt the organization of these groups of whales before they run out. Research suggests that these disorders can be caused by competition for food, partners or bad whales.

Whales are stranded on Stewart Island, New Zealand. (Source: AFP)

Scientists surmise that the signal from the whales who are having trouble because of these reasons may have caused confusion among others around it. As a result, small families of whales in a flock will get lost, before they all run aground. Scientists say their research will help bring the whale back to the sea.

"Often, people will find a way to help a young whale get aground back to the sea, thanks to the nearest whale lying there, because everyone thinks it is the mother of a stranded fish " - Baker said - "Unfortunately, the whale may not be his mother. Our research results only give a warning signal against the decision to rescue whales based on. this assumption ".