17262
Open
Mediterranean Sperm Whales Unusual Mortality Event in 2019
Mazzariol S., Corazzola G., Graic J.M., Centelleghe C., Marsili L., Terracciano G., Cocumelli C., Di Nocera F., Puleio R., Pintore A., Denurra D., Di Guardo G., Grattarola C., Goria M, Biolatti C., Casalone C
International Whaling Commission
2020
SC/68B/E/10 Rev1
The report describe an unusual mortality event involving 26 sperm whales occurred in the Mediterranean from Nov 2018 through July 2019, counting for about 2% of the Mediterranean SW subpopulation. Main findings were Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) infection, marine debris ingestion and entanglement. Due to epidemiological and molecular evidences CeMV was considered as a relevant factor in the mortality while marine debris and entanglement as an incidental findings. Other human related activities were excluded due to absence of spatial and temporal association.