@article{fdi:010035660, title = {{M}arine mammal strandings in the {N}ew {C}aledonia region, {S}outhwest {P}acific}, author = {{B}orsa, {P}hilippe}, editor = {}, language = {{ENG}}, abstract = {{F}our hundred twenty three marine mammals, in 72 stranding events, were recorded between 1877 and 2005 in {N}ew {C}aledonia, the {L}oyalty {I}slands, and {V}anuatu in the southwest {P}acific. {S}ixteen species were represented in this count, including: minke whale, {B}alaenoptera acutorostrata (1 single stranding), sei whale, {B}. borealis (1 single stranding), blue whale, {B}. musculus (1 single stranding), humpback whale, {M}egaptera novaeangliae (2 single strandings), giant sperm whale, {P}hyseter macrocephalus (18 single strandings, 2 pair strandings), pygmy sperm whale, {K}ogia breviceps (5 single strandings), dwarf sperm whale, {K}. sima (2 single strandings, {I} triple stranding), {B}lainville's beaked whale, {M}esoplodon densirostris (2 single strandings), short-finned pilot whale, {G}lobicephala macrorhynchus (4 strandings, 56 individuals), melon-headed whale, {P}eponocephala electra ({I} single stranding and 2 mass strandings totalling 231 individuals), common dolphin, {D}elphinus delphis (1 single stranding), spinner dolphin, {S}tenella longirostris (1 pair stranding and 2 mass strandings of groups of similar to 30 individuals each), {I}ndian {O}cean bottlenose dolphin, {T}ursiops aduncus (2 single strandings), dugong, {D}ugong dugon (14 single strandings), and {N}ew {Z}ealand fur seal, {A}rctocephalus forsteri (3 single strandings). {A} stranded rorqual identified as an {A}ntarctic minke whale ({B}. bonaerensis), with coloration patterns that did not match known descriptions, was also reported. {S}ei whale was recorded for the first time in the tropical {S}outhwest {P}acific region and {A}ntarctic minke whale, melon-headed whale, and {I}ndian {O}cean bottlenose dolphin were recorded for the first time in {N}ew {C}aledonia. {S}trandings of sperm whales were most frequent in the spring, but also occurred in autumn months, suggesting a seasonal pattern of occurrence possibly related to seasonal migration. {O}ne stranded humpback whale bore the scars of a killer whale's attack and one dugong was injured by a shark. {S}cars left by propellers were noted on several stranded animals including one {A}ntarctic minke whale, one pygmy sperm whale, one dwarf sperm whale, and four dugongs. {C}ollisions with vessels were suspected to be a frequent cause of death for dugong.}, keywords = {}, booktitle = {}, journal = {{C}omptes {R}endus {B}iologies}, volume = {329}, numero = {4}, pages = {277--288}, ISSN = {1631-0691}, year = {2006}, DOI = {10.1016/j.crvi.2006.01.004}, URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010035660}, }