In 1970, a massive sperm whale washed ashore near Florence, Oregon, creating a public problem officials didn’t know how to solve. With crowds gathering and decay setting in, authorities approved an ...

Scientists continue to study whale and dolphin strandings to better understand the different threats they face.

When whales die, the same process that bloats any dead animal begins—but on a massive scale. Trapped gases from decomposition build up inside their huge bodies, sealed in by thick blubber and pressure ...