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Hundreds of young whales die in Argentina: Cause unclear

In southern Argentina, hundreds of whale calves have died. Scientists suspect a bacterial infection as the main cause, but see no threat to the overall population.

26 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Hundreds of young whales die in Argentina: Cause unclear — Archive photoPhoto: Eberhardt TRAVEL · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0

In southern Argentina, hundreds of young whales have died in recent weeks. The carcasses were found along beaches, particularly on the Valdés Peninsula, which is known for its whale population.

Scientists, including marine biologist Mariano Coscarella from the Argentine research institute CONICET, have suggested that the whale deaths may be due to a bacterial infection. This could cause systemic diseases in the calves of the Southern Right Whales.

According to Coscarella, this appears to be a natural cause. There has been no evidence of human-induced factors found so far. However, he did not rule out human activities as a possible factor.

Several media reports indicate that this type of infection has been observed in the past and could represent classic phenomena interacting with the environment.

The provincial government of Chubut has been monitoring the situation closely. Current investigations suggest that the overall population of whales is not endangered, which alleviates concerns about the long-term survival of the species.

The issue is still being studied by scientists to gain deeper insights into the causes and extent of the incident. Experts emphasize the importance of further research to identify potential risks early.],

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