How did a whale explode in Taiwan?

How did a whale explode in Taiwan?

Another whale explosion occurred on January 29, 2004, in Tainan City, Taiwan. This time the explosion resulted from the buildup of gas inside a decomposing sperm whale, which caused it to burst.

Why you should never go near a dead whale?

Basically, as the blood circulation and respiration stops in a dead whale, it leads to the decomposition of cells and tissues by the microbes already present in the body, which leads to the further proliferation of bacteria. The thick fat under the whale’s skin makes matters even worse.

Why do dead fish explode?

Similar energy reserves lurk in the molecular bonds of hydrogen and carbon compounds produced by decomposing fish, creating the possibility of an explosion under the right conditions, MacDougall explained.

What happens after a whale dies?

The descent. Decay sets in soon after the death of a whale, as the insides begin to decompose. The animal then expands with gas and sometimes floats up to the ocean’s surface, where it can be scavenged by sharks and seabirds.

What does rotting whale smell like?

Bowtell agreed that the stench was “putrid”, and locals even 5km to 6km away were saying they could smell it. “I was wearing a mask on the beach but it doesn’t matter,” he said. “It travels through you, your body absorbs it. It felt like my entire nose and lungs were coated in this rotting flesh.

Can a fish explode?

They don’t explode because they have cell walls. They don’t explode because they have kidneys to get rid of excess water.

Can a fish burst?

Fish do absorb water through their skin and gills in a process called osmosis. But fishes’ bodies, just like ours, need a certain concentration of salt to function best. They can’t just allow the water to diffuse freely through their gills; the saltwater fish would shrivel up and the freshwater fish would explode!

How long does a whale carcass last?

The bacterial mats provide nourishment for mussels, clams, limpets and sea snails. As whale bones are rich in lipids, representing 4–6% of its body weight, the final digestion stage can last between 50 and possibly 100 years.

How long does it take a whale carcass to decompose?

Decomposition of a whale fall occurs in three distinct stages, each of which benefits different marine species. The first stage allows animals like hagfish and sleeper sharks to pull soft tissue (including the abundant fat stores) from the whale’s carcass; this stage can last a few months or as long as 18 months.

What was the name of the whale that exploded in Taiwan?

TAIPEI – Residents of Tainan learned a lesson in whale biology after the decomposing remains of a 60-ton sperm whale exploded on a busy street, showering nearby cars and shops with blood and organs and stopping traffic for hours.

How does an exploding whale work in real life?

Exploding whale describes a number of actual real-world occurrences of carcasses of beached whales detonating due to an accumulation of gases internally to the whale corpse during the decomposition process. Explosives have also been used to assist in disposing of whale carcasses, ordinarily after towing the carcass out to sea.

Where was the second exploding whale in the world?

Tainan City, Taiwan. Another well-known explosion occurred on January 29, 2004, in Tainan City, Taiwan, and after the 1970 Oregon incident it was “the second exploding whale story” to have the most coverage.

What was the cause of the 2004 whale explosion?

Another whale explosion occurred on January 29, 2004, in Tainan City, Taiwan. This time the explosion resulted from the buildup of gas inside a decomposing sperm whale, which caused it to burst. The cause of the phenomenon was initially unknown, since it unexpectedly occurred in the spine of the whale.

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