Biosonar dysfunction and mass stranding of short-finned pilot whale <em>Globicephala macrorhyncus</em> at Manapad, southeast coast of India- An emphatic key in demystifying the enigma?

Abstract

A mass stranding of 81 short-finned pilot whale (SFPW) <em>Globicephala macrorhynchus </em>along Manapad coast from 11th to 15th January, 2016 was reported. Along the same coast, 147 SFPW were reported to have stranded in the same month, 43 years ago. Morphometric measurements of stranded specimens were taken. Based on the necropsy and subsequent findings, the animals showed no obvious signs of health problems. The single most predominant cause to have triggered the recent mass stranding could be possibly biosonar dysfunction.