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False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens mass stranding at Long Beach on South Africa's Cape Peninsula, 2009

Published in: African Journal of Marine Science
Volume 32 , issue 1 , 2010 , pages: 167–170

DOI: 10.2989/1814232X.2010.481168

Author(s): SP Kirkman Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa , MA Meÿer Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa , M Thornton Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, South Africa

Keywords: false killer whale , mass stranding , Pseudorca crassidens , South Africa

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Abstract

A mass stranding of false killer whales Pseudorca crassidens at Long Beach near the village of Kommetjie (34°8.18'S, 18°9.77'E) on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, in May 2009 is described. Theestimated size of stranded group was 55 animals, which is close to the median size of P. crassidens groups that have stranded previously in South Africa (58). Five of the stranded individuals succumbed, 36 were euthanised and 14 were rescued. This was the eighth known mass stranding of this species to occur in South Africa, with all these events occurring on the irregular south-west coast of the Western Cape province.

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