On Sunday night, an orca (Orcinus orca) was stranded on Playa Mansa in Punta del Este, at stop 1. The Coast Guard immediately notified the authorities, activating the Stranding Working Group (GTV) and institutions such as the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of the Republic, the National Directorate of Aquatic Resources, Firefighters, the Municipality of Maldonado, and the organization Renace.
The animal was in a marked state of weakness, which prevented it from being returned to the sea. Throughout the night, it received veterinary care, but its condition worsened. Finally, the specialists decided to apply euthanasia, prioritizing the well-being of the specimen.
Decision and necropsy
The official statement emphasized that the orca was in a critical state and in an agonizing phase, making its reintegration unfeasible. After the procedure, the body was transported to Montevideo for a necropsy at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to determine the causes of the stranding.
The GTV highlighted that all necessary measures were taken to ensure the safety of the team and that the decision was made based on medical, ethical, and legal criteria.
Possible causes of strandings
The strandings of orcas and other marine mammals in Uruguay are complex phenomena that can be due to multiple factors:
- Diseases or physical weakness: pneumonia and damage to the caudal fin were possible causes in this case.
- Storms and adverse weather conditions: the event occurred during a weather alert.
- Chasing prey in shallow waters: miscalculations during hunting can lead to getting trapped.
- Acoustic pollution and seismic prospecting: underwater noise can affect the orientation of cetaceans.
- Interaction with human activities: entanglements in fishing nets or collisions with vessels.
- Natural disorientation: health problems or geographical anomalies.
Context in Uruguay
The Marine Mammal Stranding Network of Uruguay records hundreds of cases each year, mainly in Rocha (55.6%) and Maldonado (21.6%). Strandings are more frequent in winter and provide an opportunity to study the health of the marine ecosystem.
The necropsies conducted at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine help identify diseases, contaminants, and patterns of interaction with human activities, providing key information for conservation.
Importance of research
Each stranding offers valuable data on the state of the oceans and the interaction between marine fauna and human activities. These studies help design more effective rescue protocols, improve environmental risk management, and strengthen public awareness about the fragility of marine ecosystems.
The case of the stranded orca in Punta del Este reflects the complexity and the need for clear protocols and inter-institutional cooperation. Although euthanasia was painful, the animal’s well-being was prioritized in the face of an irreversible state. These episodes remind us of the importance of investigating the causes and reinforcing the protection of marine mammals in Uruguay, where the interaction between natural and human factors remains a constant challenge.
