Two dead porpoises have washed up on our coast. One in Blankenberge and one in Nieuwpoort. “Perhaps more will follow,” says marine biologist Jan Haelters.
–
The first autumn storm in our country, storm Odette, is not alone caused a lot of damage, the strong wind and current also ensures that marine animals wash up. For example, two porpoises have already washed up in Blankenberge and Nieuwpoort. And that may be even more. ‘There is a strong northerly wind, so it is normal for them to wash ashore now’, says Jan Haelters of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS).
It is not very unusual for a porpoise to wash up, not even without a storm. ‘There are on average about 100 per year’, says Haelters. ‘Many of them are already in a state of decomposition, we no longer conduct scientific research on them. Nor is it a rare phenomenon, we have plenty of them. So we leave it to the municipality. ‘
Transmitting diseases
Because the fire brigade and towing services are currently very busy, the porpoises will probably stay on the beach for a while. ‘Or they wash back into the sea, that is also possible,’ says Haelters. Either way: as a person you are better off staying away from it. “Even though they look“ fresh ”, the dead animals that wash ashore are already in a state of decomposition. They contain a lot of bacteria and can also transmit diseases. So stay off. Also of living specimens, by the way. ‘
The animals could have died for various reasons, it is not always clear. ‘In the animal from Nieuwpoort, the wounds seem to come from a gray seal. The adult male may have died as a result. ‘
– .
