{
  "id": 11878827,
  "title": "5 dead in 3 weeks: are Indonesia’s whale strandings on the rise?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/5-dead-in-3-weeks-are-indonesias-whale-strandings-on-the-rise",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-04T08:00:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3369613/5-dead-3-weeks-are-indonesias-whale-strandings-rise"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Over the past three weeks, Indonesia has experienced five whale and whale shark strandings, raising concerns about a potential increase in such incidents. Experts cite a combination of environmental shifts, human activity, and improved reporting for the potential rise. The first incident occurred on September 25 in Aceh province, where a whale shark died after stranding. Days earlier, a decomposed whale carcass was found in Riau province. On September 21, a whale was discovered dead in West Java, followed by a whale shark stranding in South Sulawesi on the same day. The most recent incident was a whale shark washing ashore in Bali on September 12. A 2025 study revealed a significant increase in whale shark strandings since 2020, jumping from fewer than 10 per year to over 22. This surge is believed to be influenced by factors such as sea-surface temperatures, wave height, and marine productivity, particularly in areas affected by seasonal upwelling. However, researchers also attribute part of the apparent increase to the widespread use of smartphones and social media, which have improved reporting capabilities. Despite the recent strandings, scientists caution that it is too early to determine if these incidents are directly linked. Traditional fishing community chief Miftach Tjut Ade noted that it is rare to encounter a stranded whale shark, and efforts by locals to push it back into the sea proved futile due to its weight. Mark Meekan, a researcher from the University of Western Australia, highlighted the long history of stranding incidents, explaining that modern technology allows for quicker dissemination of information. He also mentioned various theories behind stranding occurrences, including human activity, navigational errors, and social behavior. Causes of strandings can be challenging to ascertain, particularly when carcasses are severely decomposed. In the case of the Riau whale, identification was hindered by decomposition, with official test results pending. Ahlul Fadli, an advocacy manager, cautioned against speculation without solid data while pointing to potential threats from human activities, such as pollution and disturbances to ocean activity. Whale shark strandings are primarily caused by collisions with ships and pollution. Brad Norman, a researcher, emphasized the difficulty in determining whether global strandings are increasing and the need for further analysis to understand the trends and identify potential threats.",
  "summary": "A cluster of whale and whale shark strandings across Indonesia – five in the past three weeks alone – has raised questions over whether such incidents are becoming more frequent, with experts pointing to a mix of environmental shifts, human activity and improved reporting as possible explanations. On September 25, a whale shark became stranded and died on a beach in Aceh province, just days after…",
  "key_points": [
    "Five whale and whale shark strandings in Indonesia over three weeks",
    "Potential increase due to environmental shifts, human activity, improved reporting",
    "2025 study shows significant rise in whale shark strandings since 2020"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}