---
title: "Mystery of Mass Whale Deaths: Dozens of Dead Calves Found on Argentina's Coasts"
description: "Mass deaths of southern right whale calves are being recorded off the coast of Argentina. Scientists are investigating the tragedy, linking it to bacterial infections and gull attacks."
date: 2026-10-03T10:17:29.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/mystery-of-mass-whale-deaths-argentina
tags: [argentina, whales, marine-biology, climate-change, nature-news]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Mystery of Mass Whale Deaths: Dozens of Dead Calves Found on Argentina's Coasts

![Dead southern right whale calf on the coast of Argentina](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/03/zagadka-massovoy-gibeli-kitov-v-argentine/zagadka-massovoy-gibeli-kitov-v-argentine-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Dozens of dead southern right whale calves have been found on Argentina's Patagonian coast.
- The primary scientific theory links deaths to bacterial infections entering through wounds from gull attacks.
- Climate change and warming waters may increase bacterial virulence and weaken whale immunity.
- Locals report hundreds of carcasses, but researchers will wait until season's end for official statistics.

Argentine authorities and the scientific community are facing a troubling and poorly understood phenomenon: an unusually high mortality rate among southern right whale calves along the country's Patagonian coast. A large number of dead carcasses have been washed ashore on the Peninsula Valdes, which historically serves as one of the most critical breeding and nursing grounds for this vulnerable marine mammal species.

### Ecological Context and Historical Background

In the 19th and 20th centuries, southern right whales were driven to near extinction by commercial whaling, but following international protection in 1935, their population began a slow recovery. Today, the protected waters around Peninsula Valdes in Chubut province act as a primary nursery for these giants. Nevertheless, the current breeding season has been marred by unprecedented calf mortality, causing deep concern among biologists, environmentalists, and locals witnessing the tragic scenes near Puerto Madryn.

### Primary Hypotheses and Gull Attacks

Veterinarian Marcela Uhart, who leads the Southern Right Whale Health Monitoring Program and represents the One Health Institute at the University of California, Davis, is directing a large-scale investigation. Based on 23 years of observation, experts confirm the anomalous nature of current events. The leading scientific hypothesis links the calf deaths to dangerous marine bacteria entering their bodies through wounds inflicted by kelp gulls. These birds aggressively target surfacing whales to feed on their skin and blubber. While adult whales have learned to protect themselves by exposing only their heads, inexperienced calves remain entirely vulnerable to avian attacks.

### Contradictory Data

While official scientific bodies and research teams are refraining from publishing final figures until the breeding season ends in late November, local residents and tour guides report hundreds of discovered carcasses. Researchers explain this discrepancy by noting that accurate counting requires systematic work using boats, planes, and drones, along with laboratory tissue analysis. Estimates of the root causes behind microbial activation also differ: some experts point to local environmental factors, while others blame global climate change, including the El Nino phenomenon and rising water temperatures.

### Climate Factor and Population Prospects

According to Dr. Uhart, climate change and ocean warming may create an 'perfect storm' that weakens the animals' immune systems and makes bacteria exceptionally aggressive. International threats such as declining food sources, oil spills, and ship strikes add to the overall risk profile. If large-scale calf losses continue, it could deal a severe blow to the recovering population and undermine decades of conservation efforts.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Загадка массовой гибели китов, выбросившихся на берега Аргентины.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/bi-an-hang-loat-ca-voi-chet-dat-bo-bien-argentina) - Оригинальный репортаж и интервью с ветеринаром Марселой Ухарт.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Where is the mass mortality of whale calves taking place?
**A:** The phenomenon has been recorded on the Patagonian coast of Argentina, specifically at Peninsula Valdes and around the Gulf of Puerto Madryn in Chubut province.

### Q: What is the primary scientific hypothesis regarding the cause of death?
**A:** The leading hypothesis points to infection by marine bacteria entering through wounds inflicted by gulls feeding on the skin and blubber of the whales.

### Q: Why do adult whales suffer less from gull attacks than calves?
**A:** Adults have learned to keep their backs underwater while exposing only their heads, whereas young calves have not yet mastered this skill.