Strandings of sperm whales have occurred across much of their global range. About 60 per cent of the world's recorded sperm whale strandings occur in three regions – Tasmania, New Zealand and the North Sea.[1] 132 strandings of sperm whales were recorded around the coast of the United Kingdom (mostly in Scotland) between 1990 and 2011.[2] The list below is in reverse chronological order and is not exhaustive. Possible causes of stranding events are mostly speculative and are not reflected in this list.
| Year | Date | Country | Location | Numbers | class=unsortable rowspan=2 | Size and notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beached | Died | Survived | ||||||
| 2024 | March 10 | United States | Sarasota County, Florida | 1 | 1 | 0 | 44-foot (13.4-meter) male. Carcass dragged out to sea.[3] | |
| 2021 | June 6 | United States | Bay County, Florida | 1 | 1 | 0 | 29 ft (9 m) long | |
| 2020 | December 24 | United Kingdom | Withernsea, East Yorkshire | 10 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | November 19 | United States | Mobile Bay, Alabama | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10.7m long | |
| 2018 | November 23 | New Zealand | Tokerau Beach, Doubtless Bay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15m long.[4] | |
| 2018 | November 19 | Indonesia | Southeast Sulawesi | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9.5 m long. Stomach contained over 1000 plastic items.[5] [6] | |
| 2018 | April | Spain | Murcia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33 ft long. Underweight. Stomach contained many plastic items.[7] | |
| 2017 | December 29 | New Zealand | Mahia Beach, Mahia Peninsula | 1 | 1 | 0 | 18m long. Estimated 40–80 years old and weighing 35-40 tonnes. Buried.[8] Claimed whale died of "natural causes", without undertaking necropsy.[9] | |
| 2017 | December 3 | Australia | Hopetoun, Western Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | Washed ashore dead and decomposing. First sighted at sea. Estimated weight 45 tonnes. Carcass disposed of by Shire of Ravensthorpe.[10] | |
| 2017 | December 1 | Netherlands | Domburg, Zeeland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13.5m long adult male. Found dead. Body recovered for necropsy by Utrecht University.[11] | |
| 2017 | November 13 | Indonesia | Aceh | 10 | 4 | 6 | 7 were refloated, one returned to shore and died, and the remainder died on the beach.[12] [13] [14] | |
| 2017 | March 6 | United States | Warrenton, Oregon (near Peter Iredale shipwreck) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 36 ft long. Washed ashore in advanced stage of decomposition. First spotted floating offshore from Newport on March 2.[15] | |
| 2016 | December 3 | United States | Sister Lake (Caillou Lake), Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23.5 ft long calf. Found dead. Body recovered for necropsy.[16] | |
| 2016 | November 21 | United States | San José Island, Texas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 28 ft long calf. Found dead. Body recovered for necropsy.[17] | |
| 2016 | October 19 | United States | Little Florida Beach, Cameron Parish, Louisiana | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 ft long calf. Found dead. Body recovered for necropsy.[18] | |
| 2016 | October 18 | United States | Little Gasparilla Island, Florida | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19.5 ft long calf. Found dead. Body recovered for necropsy.[19] | |
| 2016 | August 27 | United States | Ponce Inlet, Florida | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 ft long. Died 2 hours after attendants arrived. Body recovered for necropsy.[20] | |
| 2016 | July 10 | United Kingdom | Perran Beach, Perranporth, Cornwall | 1 | 1 | 0 | Female. Alive at time of discovery. Died while under observation.[21] | |
| 2016 | May 16 | Egypt | Marsa Matrouh | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15m long, estimated weight 30 tonnes. Discovered dead. Samples were taken before the carcass was buried. The skeleton will be moved to Valley of The Whales where it will be put on display.[22] | |
| 2016 | May 5 | Iceland | Dalvík | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12m long. Discovered dead, carcass in good condition.[23] | |
| 2016 | February 4 | United Kingdom | Hunstanton beach, England | 1 | 1 | 0 | Male, estimated 25–30 tonnes, 14 metres long. Found in the morning, died in the evening.[24] Considered part of the "North Sea pod" strandings, aggregated in below record.[25] | |
| 2016 | February 2 | Germany | Friedrichskoog | 8 | 8 | 0 | Male. Considered part of the "North Sea pod" strandings, aggregated in record below. | |
| 2016 | January 8 – February 25 | Denmark France Germany Netherlands United Kingdom | Multiple locations | 30 | 30 | 0 | Strandings of immature males at multiple sites around the North Sea in 5 countries over 6 weeks.[26] [27] Some of the animals' stomachs contained large quantities of plastic items,[28] [29] but that was not considered the primary cause of the strandings. | |
| 2016 | January 12 | Netherlands | Texel | 5 | 5 | 0 | Whales were discovered alive in the afternoon, but died overnight.[30] Considered part of the "North Sea pod" strandings, aggregated in above record. | |
| 2015 | November 15 | Australia | Salmon Rocks, near Cape Conran, Victoria | 1 | 1 | 0 | [31] [32] | |
| 2015 | October 15 | Taiwan | Tongshi | 1 | 1 | 0 | Found stranded near Tingshi. Refloated, alive. Rediscovered three days later, dead, 20 km distant. Necropsy revealed various marine debris in the animal's stomach.[33] | |
| 2015 | September 21 | Iceland | Skógasandur, Sólheimasandur | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15m long bull carcass washed ashore on private property. Lower jaw was kept by the property owner.[34] [35] | |
| 2015 | July 10 | Singapore | off Jurong Island | 1 | 1 | 0 | Found dead, floating near tanker terminal. Possible ship strike.[36] [37] | |
| 2015 | April 15 | United States | Pacifica, California | 1 | 1 | 0 | Carcass washed ashore.[38] | |
| 2014 | December 17 | United Kingdom | near Inver Beach, Easter Ross, Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | Discovered dead within the Tain Air Weapons Range complex. Scientists responded the following day. 50 ft long.[39] | |
| 2014 | December 15 | Guyana | Kitty, Georgetown | 1 | 1 | 0 | Became entangled in fisherman's net day before stranding, then disappeared. Stranded the following day with pieces of net found in its mouth. Male. 45 ft long.[40] | |
| 2014 | December 8 | Australia | Ardrossan, South Australia | 8 | 7 | 1 | One whale showed possible evidence of propeller wounds, all were female.[41] Another was found distant from the group in 1.5 m water near Port Vincent and was successfully shepherded out to sea[42] | |
| 2014 | December 3 | India | Kelua river mouth, Astarang, Odisha | 1 | 1 | 0 | 32 ft long.[43] | |
| 2014 | November 24 | New Zealand | Rototai Beach, Golden Bay | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 found dead, towed to sea for disposal[44] | |
| 2014 | October 13 | Philippines | Barangay Lingsat, San Fernando City, La Union | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9.5 metre long, 10-ton female washed ashore, died and was buried locally.[45] | |
| 2014 | October | Iceland | Breiðdalsvík, East Iceland | 1 | 1 | 0 | Teeth cleaned and kept, body burned.[46] | |
| 2014 | September | Italy | Central Adriatic coastline | 7 | 4 | 3 | Four were refloated, three females (one of which was pregnant and carrying a male fetus) died on the shore.[47] | |
| 2014 | May 1 | Canada | Cape St George, Newfoundland | 1 | 1 | 0 | Found dead, one of four found in the area in a month. Town attempted sale on eBay[48] | |
| 2014 | April 6 | Canada | Southeastern Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland | 1 | 1 | 0 | Found dead, one of four found in the area in a month[49] | |
| 2014 | April 6 | Canada | Trepassey, Newfoundland | 1 | 1 | 0 | Found dead, one of four found in the area in a month[50] | |
| 2014 | April 5 | Canada | Biscay Bay, Newfoundland | 1 | 1 | 0 | Found dead, one of four found in the area in a month[51] | |
| 2014 | January 11 | United Kingdom | Portobello beach, Edinburgh, Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | Taken to a landfill site for necropsy.[52] | |
| 2014 | January 11 | Uruguay | Carrasco beach, Montevideo, Uruguay | 1 | 1 | 0 | Male. Carcass was lifted by crane and buried.[53] | |
| 2014 | January 10 | United States | Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Florida | 1 | 1 | 0 | Washed ashore partly decomposed. Possibly the same whale found beached in the Florida Keys on January 4 (which was necropsied and refloated).[54] | |
| 2013 | October 31 | United States | Madeira Beach, Florida | 1 | 1 | 0 | Euthanased, near St John's Pass, looked malnourished[55] | |
| 2013 | July 13 | United States | Turtle Cove, Yona, Guam | 1 | 1 | 0 | 35 ft male, likely died at sea, body washed up on reef.[56] | |
| 2013 | June 27 | United States | Chetco Point, Brookings Harbor, Curry, Oregon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 40 ft long. Washed up already badly decomposed.[57] | |
| 2013 | June 1 | New Zealand | Serpentine Beach, Kumara Junction, West Coast Region | 1 | 1 | 0 | Male.[58] Three other individuals of different species stranded in area within 2 days- others were pygmy sperm, long-finned pilot and Cuvier's beaked whales.[59] | |
| 2012 | December 5 | Australia | Younghusband Peninsula, South Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4.7m long female. Washed up dead.[60] | |
| 2012 | November 18 | Australia | Waitpinga Cliffs, Victor Harbor, South Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | Washed up dead.[61] | |
| 2012 | August 14 | United States | Hulls Cove, Bar Harbor, Maine | 1 | 1 | 0 | Found floating near Schoodic Point. Towed ashore for necropsy and collection by museum.[62] | |
| 2012 | March | United Kingdom | Skegness Beach | 1 | 1 | 0 | Cause of death believed to be ship strike. Animal was 50 ft long, had a gash down one side and was believed to have died at sea.[63] | |
| 2012 | February 8 | Belgium | 1 | 1 | 0 | Was alive when beached, died soon afterwards.[64] | ||
| 2012 | February | Tunisian Republic | Sidi Daoud beach | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 m long, 15 tonnes[65] | |
| 2011 | September 12 | Australia | Ocean Beach and Macquarie Harbour, Strahan, Tasmania | 20 | Pod discovered on Ocean Beach near Strahan. Nearby, rescuers attempted to free eight sperm whales stranded on a sand bar in Macquarie Harbour, about four kilometres south of the beach.[66] | |||
| 2011 | June 1 (reported) | United Kingdom | Redcar beach, Cleveland | 1 | 1 | 0 | Stranded and died ashore. 44 ft long male. | |
| 2011 | March 11 | United Kingdom | Thanet, Kent | 1 | 1 | 0 | 45 ft long.[67] | |
| 2009 | December | Italy | Southern Adriatic coast | 7 | All male. | |||
| 2009 | January 23 | Australia | Perkins Island, Tasmania | 50 | 50 | 0 | Eight were alive at first assessment.[68] No survivors, rescue confounded by shallow water, inaccessible location for machinery and sheer number of dead or dying whales. | |
| 2008 | June 10 | United States | Port Aransas, Texas | 1 | 1 | 0 | Whale was alive when NOAA received report. 27-foot long female. Euthanased and necropsied.[69] | |
| 2007 | August 12 | Australia | Between Pelican Point and Blackfellows Caves, South Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | Large gash on animal's back strongly suggests it had been involved in a ship collision.[70] | |
| 2007 | June | Iran | Near Jask, Hormozgan | 1 | 1 | 0 | Likely Gulf of Oman resident and first Iranian stranding on record.[71] | |
| 2006 | October 25 | Australia | One Mile Beach, east of Hopetoun, Western Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | Washed ashore, already dead.[72] | |
| 2006 | October 24 | Australia | Bremer Bay, Western Australia | 5 | 5 | 0 | Died after beaching themselves. One whale was 20 m away from the others. Sizes ranged from 9.7 m to 12.5 m.[73] | |
| 2006 | August | Australia | Newcastle, New South Wales | 1 | 1 | 0 | Washed ashore dead bearing deep cuts believed caused by propeller strike from a large commercial vessel.[74] | |
| 2006 | August | New Zealand | Port Waikato | 1 | 1 | 0 | Juvenile female (7.2m) with visible injuries from fishing line entanglement. Washed up dead.[75] | |
| 2006 | June 1 | Tunisian Republic | Bizerte, Cap Zbib | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16 m male.[76] | |
| 2005 | December 13 | Tunisian Republic | Tabarka | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7.6 m partial body found. Female. | |
| 2005 | March 7 | Ireland | Belgooly Creek, Kinsale, Cork | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14 m male found decomposed.[77] | |
| 2005 | February 22 | United Kingdom | Fair Head, County Antrim, Northern Ireland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 m male found decomposed. | |
| 2005 | February 7 | United Kingdom | Garron Point, County Antrim, Northern Ireland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 m male found decomposed. | |
| 2005 | January 17 | Ireland | Long Strand, Castlefreke, Cork | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 m male found decomposed. | |
| 2004 | June 16 | Australia | Ocean Beach and Macquarie Harbour, Strahan, Tasmania | 5 | 4 | 1 | Four sperm whales found dead on Ocean Beach. Another, thought to be from same pod, was rescued after becoming stranded in Macquarie Harbour at Strahan.[78] | |
| 2003 | November 30 | Australia | Arthurs Bay, Flinders Island, Tasmania | 10 | 9 | 1 | ||
| 2003 | September 25 | Australia | Doubtful Island Bay, near Bremer Bay, Western Australia | 9 | 9 | 0 | All badly gashed, at least 6 were dead at time of first inspection. Were neither rescued nor euthanised.[79] | |
| 2003 | New Zealand | Karekare beach, West Auckland | 12 | [80] | ||||
| 1997 | March | United Kingdom | Firth of Forth, Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 40 ft long male, nicknamed 'Moby'[81] | |
| 1995 | January | Netherlands | Scheveningen | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1994 | December | United Kingdom | Sanday, Orkney | 11 | 11 | 0 | [82] | |
| 1994 | November | Belgium | Koksijde/Nieuwpoort | 4 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1994 | October 29 | New Zealand | Muriwai Beach, Auckland | 72 | [83] | |||
| 1992 | October | Australia | Strahan Tasmania | 12 | 10 | 2 | Notes | |
| 1991 | December | Denmark | Fanø | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1989 | September 2 | United States | West of Sabine Pass, Galveston, Texas25th | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3-week-old calf, found stranded in surf and taken into care at Sea-Arama aquarium. Suffered a "pneumonia-like" lung infection and died a week after being discovered.[84] | |
| 1984 | February 9 | Australia | Perkins Bay, Stanley, Tasmania | 8 | 8 | 0 | [85] | |
| 1984 | January | Netherlands | Henne, Strand | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1983 | April 19 | Australia | Prion Beach, south coast, Tasmania | 1 | 1 | 0 | Single dead animal approx 25 ft long, rolling in surf. Said to be 'nearly white' in colour.[86] | |
| 1983 | January 14 | Australia | Temma, west coast, Tasmania | 1 | 1 | 0 | Single adult female washed up dead. 11.1 m long. | |
| 1982 | October | Australia | Ringarooma Bay, Tasmania | 1 | 1 | 0 | Putrid carcass found weeks after stranding. | |
| 1982 | February 9 | Australia | Perkins Bay, Stanley, Tasmania | 9 | 5 | 4 | Nine animals observed swimming offshore, 1 hour before the second lowest spring ebb tide for February. Stranded later, four refloated after midnight. Five females remained, all were dead the next evening. Lengths ranged from 10.4 to 11.25 m. | |
| 1982 | January 26 | Australia | Ocean Beach, Strahan, Tasmania | 14 | 14 | 0 | Carcasses were found already decomposing. one female had aborted or evulsed a 3.96 m male foetus. 3 males, 11 females. Largest male was 14.3 m, largest female was 11.65 m long. | |
| 1982 | January 23 | Australia | Perkins Bay, Stanley, Tasmania | 1 | 1 | 0 | Adult female 10.6m long. Next day it evulsed a 4.1 m male calf. | |
| 1981 | September 25 | Australia | Fotheringate Bay, Flinders Island, Tasmania | 2 | 2 | 0 | Two mature males, 16m and 16.2m. Had been dead for about 2 weeks. In advanced stage of decomposition. | |
| 1981 | January 15 | Australia | Macquarie Harbour, Strahan, Tasmania | 26 | 17 | 8 | Nine animals returned to deep water, five voluntarily and four with assistance. One later restranded and died. | |
| 1980 | March | Australia | South of Trial Harbour, Tasmania | 3 | 3 | 0 | Decomposing corpses of three animals. | |
| 1979 | June 16 | United States | Siuslaw River, Oregon | 41 | Event detailed in scientific paper.[87] | |||
| 1979 | February 1 | Mexico | Isla del Espiritu Santo | 1 | 14.39 m male.[88] | |||
| 1979 | January 1 | Mexico | San Bruno, 15 km north of Mulege, Baja California Sur | 56 | 38 males, 9 females, 3 aborted fetuses (none of which appeared to be full term), 9 of undetermined sex.[89] | |||
| 1978 | August 29 | Australia | Settlement Beach, Flinders Island, Tasmania | 1 | Single large animal. | |||
| 1978 | July | Mexico | Isla San José, Baja California Sur | 1 | 11 m long. Sex undetermined. | |||
| 1976 | September 30 | United States | Samoa Peninsula 1.6 km north of the entrance to Humboldt Bay, California | 1 | 1 | 0 | Decomposition prevented sex determination. A prominent dorsal hump and seven distinct knuckles or crenulations extended posteriorly down the back. Numerous crescent-shaped shark wounds were evident along the venter, back, and tailstock. | |
| 1975 | July | United States | Humboldt Bay, California | 1 | 1 | 0 | Adult female, found floating in bay. Towed to sea for disposal. Washed ashore 4.8 km south of Humboldt Bay. | |
| 1975 | Australia | Patriarchs Inlet, Flinders Island, Tasmania | 3 | 3 | 0 | Remains of three animals. | ||
| 1973 | September 1 | Mexico | Huatabampito, Sonora | 17 | Sex not determined. | |||
| 1973 | July 30 | United States | Shelter Cove, Humboldt, California | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10.2 m long. Badly decomposed, sex undetermined. | |
| 1972 | Australia | Strahan, Tasmania | 27 | Rescue attempts were made.[90] | ||||
| 1970 | June 26 | United States | Agate Beach, 1.0 km north of Patricks Point State Park, California | 1 | 1 | 0 | Adult male. | |
| 1970 | March 17 | New Zealand | Wainui Beach, Gisborne | 59 | Combination of males, females and their young. Detailed account online. | |||
| 1954 | December 28 | Mexico | San Felipe, Baja California Norte | 1 | 13 m male. | |||
| 1954 | July 14 | Australia | Middleton Beach, Albany, Western Australia | 1 | 13 ft long calf.[91] Alive when first sighted.[92] | |||
| 1954 | January 16 | Mexico | La Paz, Baja California Sur | 22 | All bulls. | |||
| 1953 | December 12 | Australia | mouth of Pioneer River, Brisbane, Queensland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50 ft long.[93] | |
| 1953 | July 15 | Australia | Tallow Beach, Byron Bay, New South Wales | 1 | 38 ft long, 25 ft circumference.[94] | |||
| 1953 | April 12 | Mexico | Cabo Tepoca, Sonora | 9 | All bulls. | |||
| 1953 | February 19 | New Zealand | Maukau harbor, Auckland | 1 | 1 | 0 | Stranded on mudbank. Auckland War Memorial Museum sought to obtain the skeleton.[95] | |
| 1949 | December | Denmark | Wadden Sea | 5 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1937 | July | France | Dunkerque | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1937 | February | Netherlands | Terneuzen | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1936 | March 8 | Australia | Stanley, Tasmania | 1 | 1 | 0 | 48 ft long. Claimed for 'salvage' by Captain W.E. Leggett.[96] Attempted to dispose away from settled areas towing the carcass behind a tugboat[97] | |
| 1935 | November 25 | Australia | West Inlet, Stanley, Tasmania | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 ft long. Attempted to escape with rising tide but failed[98] | |
| 1933 | July | Australia | South of Mandurah, Western Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | Found dead. Notes of amateur inspection published in newspaper.[99] | |
| 1926 | December 27 | Australia | Burleigh Heads, Queensland | 1 | 1 | 0 | Washed ashore dead. Bones purchased and displayed at museum.[100] | |
| 1913 | August ? | United Kingdom | Cornwall, England | 50 | 50 | 0 | [101] | |
| 1911 | March 11 | Australia | Perkins Island, Duck River, Tasmania | 37 | 37 | 0 | All bulls but one, average length 50 ft.[102] [103] The lone female was centrally positioned in the stranded group.[104] | |
| 1908 | June 13 | United States | Mosquito Inlet, Florida | 9 | 9 | 0 | Stranded on ebb tide. Whalers extracted oil from bodies.[105] | |
| 1890 | August 21 | Colony of New South Wales | Bald Hill, Port Wakefield, South Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50 ft long, had been dead "for some time"[106] | |
| 1881 | November | Colony of New South Wales | Point Bolingbroke, South Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 53 ft long.[107] On display at the South Australian Museum. | |
| 1872 | January | Colony of New South Wales | Lipson Cove, South Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | Plans were made to 'try out' and sell the oil.[108] | |
| 1820 | April 17 | United States | New York, United States | 1 | Single animal stranded near point of Sandy Hook, New York. School had been seen in the vicinity for at least ten days following 14 April.[109] | |||
| 1770 | December | Denmark | Hjarnø | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1765 | January | Denmark | Bunken Strand | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1762 | February | United Kingdom | Norfolk/Essex/Kent, England | 12 | 12 | 0 | ||
| 1762 | January | Netherlands | Frisian Islands | 7–8 | 7–8 | 0 | ||
| 1762 | January | Holy Roman Empire | Scharhörn/Neuwerk | 2 | 2 | 0 | [110] | |
| 1757 | February | Denmark | Fanø | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1753 | February | United Kingdom | Findhorn, Scotland | 3 | 3 | 0 | [111] | |
| 1751 | March | Holy Roman Empire | Oldeoog | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1738 | January | Holy Roman Empire | St Peter/Husum | 3–4 | 3–4 | 0 | ||
| 1723 | December | Holy Roman Empire | Neuwerk | 21 | 18 | 3 | ||
| 1617 | February | Netherlands | Noordwijk | 3+ | 1 | 2+ | ||
| 1617 | January | Netherlands | Goeree | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1604 | November | Holy Roman Empire | Pellworm | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1577 | November | Netherlands | Ter Heijde | 13–14 | 3 | 10–11 | ||
| 1577 | July | Netherlands/Belgium | Schelde | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1572 | November | Denmark | Skallingen | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
[112] https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12045710.vigil-mounted-after-stranded-whales-die-in-cruden-bay/