Was the exploding whale real?
A widely reported case of an exploding whale occurred in Florence, Oregon, in November 1970, when the Oregon Highway Division (now the Oregon Department of Transportation) blew up a decaying sperm whale with dynamite in an attempt to dispose of its rotting carcass.
Why do whale corpse explode?
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.
Can sperm explode?
Although sperm are constantly being made within the testicles, should the man not ejaculate for some time, his testicles won’t explode. The spermatozoa are simply re-absorbed into the body.
Why do dead animals explode?
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.
What happens if you touch a dead whale?
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.
Do dead whales really explode?
As there are usually less people in the water where whales die, they don’t usually explode. Instead, they sink to the bottom. There aren’t many other animals that can match them in size, so that means a dead whale is a ton of food for other creatures on the sea floor.
Is it illegal to touch a dead whale?
For starters, it was filmed near Alaska’s Kodiak island, and harassing marine mammals – or even touching dead ones – is illegal in the US. The act carries fines of up to $10,000, but it seems the uploader (a self-described aspiring “huntress” known only as “Krimson”) was unaware of this.