Natural History Wanderings

National Geographic reports

Experts say that entanglement in fishing gear and other objects is a likely cause for the gruesome injuries.

When the marine mammals feed in areas with lots of fishing gear, debris, and other human-made objects, ropes and nets can get stuck at the base of their tail, gradually sawing off the fluke or cutting off blood circulation until it withers away.

And the prognosis for these entangled whales is not good: “The majority of them—if not all of them—are going to most likely die from these injuries,” says Justin Viezbecke, California stranding network coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Read full story at Rise in Tailless Whales off California Has Scientists Concerned