Bizarre Government Solution to Seagulls Eating Whales - as part of the news series by GeoBeats.
Who would have thought that a bird could easily hurt a massive whale?
Dubbed “flesh-eating seagulls”, the birds descend on the whales as they come up to the surface. The gruesome scene is frequently playing out off the coast of Argentina and authorities are taking action by planning to shoot the birds from patrol boats.
The seagulls apparently peck the whales, creating gashes and they continue to use their beaks and claws to scratch away. Whales are adapting in response and modifying their behavior - they are rising just enough to breathe through their blow holes quickly and plunging back down.
A spokesperson for the National Patagonia Center states “It really worries us because the damage they’re doing to the whales is multiplying, especially to infant whales that are born in these waters.” The changing whales' behavior can also affect tourism as many visitors come to this area to watch these whales in action.
Environmentalists blame humans and trash for the increased seagull population and suggest alternative waste disposal methods as a more sustainable solution.
What do you think should be done about about this problem?
