When a whale dies does it explode?

Asked by: Jason Haberman

Whales can apparently hold in gasses, or the “death burp,” for long periods after they die, sometimes resulting in massive and extremely messy explosions.

Why do whales explode after death?

A decomposing whale carcass generates gases which build up inside their stomach and large internal organs. This then causes them to expand, but whale skin and blubber are tough so the gases become trapped inside, according to National Geographic.

What happens to a whale when it dies?

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.

Can whales explode naturally?

There have been several cases of exploding whale carcasses due to a buildup of gas in the decomposition process. This would occur if a whale decides to strand itself ashore.

What happens if you touch a dead whale?

Most scientists agree that whale explosions are unlikely. That’s because a dead whale’s skin will gradually form small tears, which will release some of the built-up gas. Whale explosions are more likely to happen if humans interfere with the corpse. For example, the skin could be punctured by an object.

Why do dead animals explode?

Causes of explosions



Post-mortem explosions, like that of a beached whale, are the result of the build-up of natural gases created by methane-producing bacteria inside the carcass during the decomposition process. Natural explosions which occur while an animal is living may be defense-related.

Do whales drown themselves?

Whales do not purposely drown themselves. However, if they get caught in a net and are unable to surface, they will drown. Beached whales may face a similar predicament. As tides rise, water may cover and enter the whale’s blowhole, causing it to drown before the water becomes deep enough for it to swim away.

Do whales fart?

The short answer is yes; whales do fart, flatus, or pass gas, depending on how you like to phrase it. In fact, whales, dolphins, and porpoises are all marine mammals belonging to the cetacean species, and they are all known to fart.

Can a man survive inside a whale?

While the veracity of the story is in question, it is physically possible for a sperm whale to swallow a human whole, as they are known to swallow giant squid whole. However, such a person would be crushed, drowned or suffocated in the whale’s stomach.

Why you shouldn’t approach a dead whale?

Beachgoers are always advised to stay far away from, and not touch, a deceased beached whale. This is because when the gaseous pressure inside the whale builds up to dangerous levels, it can have ‘explosive’ consequences.

Why you should not 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.

Why did a whale explode?

And as a whale has strong blubber a thick layer of vascularized fatty tissue under the already tough skin these gases have no way to escape as a result it creates a highly acidic.

Do beached dolphins explode?

While it smells fishy (sorry, sorry), it’s totally true — beached whales can — and do — explode. (Although not very many of them explode without a little help.)