When a whale dies, its carcass is often carried by currents and tides to the shore. Sometimes it ends up stranded on the beach.
Scientists study these carcasses to find out which contaminants and diseases affect the health of whales.
If you find a marine mammal stranded along the shores of the St.Lawrence, call the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network at 1-877-7baleine (1-877-722-5346).
- If it turns out to be a marine mammal, a team will be sent out to evaluate the condition of the carcass and to take measurements and samples.
- If it is a beluga and the carcass is fresh enough, it will be taken by truck to the Faculty of Veterinary Medecine at l’Université de Montréal in St. Hyacinthe.
- A detailed necropsy and chemical analyses may enable the scientists to determine the animal’s cause of death and its exposure to contaminants.
