61 whales die in New Zealand mass stranding

why doesn't the j-gov't go pick up these whales and do research on them instead of catching live ones?

This mass suicide of whales happens every time before a major earthquake!! The Kiwis better get ready for another major quake!!

God knows why they do that but it might as well be worth of searching for their reason as whales are intelligent animals and they might have some serious reason or (cause) to do so, other than being confused or just sick or crazy.

According to the article one would get the impression that the whales seem to like standing up as these mass "standings" occur two or 3 times a year !

A pretty ironically named place, Farewell Spit.

About 50 whales (melon headed) were stranded in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture on March 6, 2011. Five days later, the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck Japan. This is not without precedent. Maybe the whales can sense something humans can't.

why doesn't the j-gov't go pick up these whales and do research on them instead of catching live ones?

Because they are no longer fresh and therefore not safe to eat....oops, I mean research.

CrazyJoe! I think you are the only one here understands my comment about whales and earthquakes so thanks! Btw last year not only New Zealand but yes here too in Japan whales beaching themselves but Let's not forget dolphins also do this before big quakes!!

Interesting comments about the correlation between whale and dolphin strandings and earthquakes. So, you are saying that whales and dolphins can sense earthquakes so they kill themselves? That makes a lot of sense, not!

There has been something going on. Whales are now so close to shore of San Francisco too. We do not know why. Do you still remember that the same thing happened when many whales were stranded on the shore of New Zealand just before the last earthquake struck New Zealand? I am praying I am wrong.

I agree with you @Elbuda Mexicano.

CrazyJoe! I think you are the only one here understands my comment about whales and earthquakes

They understand they don't believe or don't want to believe. Don't know that proven fact that many animals feel the earthquake well before it comes. Most people thinks, whales are not seismologists, and many others can't stand hearing bad news.

Amendment

Don't know that proven fact that many animals feel the earthquake well before it comes. = They don't believe the proven fact that many animals feel the earthquake well before it comes.

It'sall the private yachts. They pollute. It disorients the whales. Worse than the Japanese whaling ships.

Disillusioned

Interesting comments about the correlation between whale and dolphin strandings and earthquakes. So, you are saying that whales and dolphins can sense earthquakes so they kill themselves? That makes a lot of sense, not!

Disillusioned, not saying it definitive but it is a big coincidence. Prior to the Indian ocean tsunami 170 whales beached themselves, prior to the February earthquake in NZ 30 whales beached themselves in NZ 3 weeks prior followed by 100 forty eight hours prior, and as mentioned prior to 3/11 50 whales beached themselves 5 days prior.

As l said definitive proof no but one heck of a coincidence

By the way, our CHINESE amigos have been studying the behavior of animals, many, many animals JUST PRIOR to earthquakes for THOUSANDS of years, so even if some people here just want to give me thumb downs, no problem, but if say New Zealand etc..get hit and hit real big soon, a few days, a few weeks after these whales and dolphins commit suicide near soon to be major earthquakes, well do not be surprised. By the way in Thailand, when they had the horrible tsunamis a few years back, most people that were SAVED were on ELEPHANTS! Yes on elephants! Seems elephants can sense danger with their FEET from hundreds of miles away! I am not making this up, this is all documented look it up on Google news etc..

there maybe up to 2,000 beachings a year. ummm...so by some people's theory, there should be 2,000 disasters a year. hmmm...

As I am not very familiar with this rating thing and very rarely use it, I used it all together max 10 times, I and I experienced this flaw maybe 4 or times out of ten, I can't tell you how or when it happened or how to recreate, but it last happened maybe a few days ago.

It's not a flaw. It just means that other people have pressed the thumbs up / thumbs down button.

This maybe a far-fetched analysis and probably might get laughed at but anyways to me all those submarines in the water navigating using sonar, is the only reason that makes sense. Sometimes a faulty piece of equipment may be sendin out sonic waves that might be getting on the Whale"s nerves. The authorities should check which vessels were in those waters , plus maybe the same ship or sub goes ther 2-3 times a year probably coinciding with the dates the whales each themselves. Even if it turns out to be not the reason for the beaching, the idea can be used to make a helluva movie.

Many animals have micro magnetite within their brains and is speculated that it is used to navigate long distance like migrating birds. When a seismic anomaly occurs crushing granite it emits an EM pulse which disrupts the normal magnetic field. It's like giving false telemetry to a GPS navigation unit. By the way this is also said to be the cause of creating what is know to some as earthquake clouds charging the water molecules within the atmosphere creating a ring like cloud around the epicenter before the earthquake actually occurs.

Maybe these whales aren't as smart as everybody thinks!

Looks like another group that is lead by a male that didn't bother to ask for directions.