Western Australian humpback whale health project

Authors: Holyoake C
Publication: Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Annual Conferences, Volume 2014 AVA Annual Conference, Perth, Issue Conservation Biology, May 2014
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

---

Abstract: Since 2008 an unprecedented number of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have stranded in Western Australia (WA). Between 1989 and 2007 the mean number of humpback whales ashore was between 2 and 3 animals (range: 0-5) per year. In 2008 there were 13 strandings followed by 46 in 2009 and 16 in 2010 (ref?). The aim of this project was to initiate the collection of data by post-mortem examination of stranded whales in 2011 to: 1) identify and characterise risk? factors associated with strandings; and 2) determine baseline and epidemiological information on disease and the nutritional status of stranded whales...

---