A mass stranding of Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) has been reported along the southeastern coast of Crete, raising alarm among scientists and conservation groups. The incident occurred on Thursday, September 25, 2025, when three cetaceans were found beached, sparking immediate response from veterinary teams, biologists, and local authorities.
According to the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and ARION, a marine mammal rescue and research organization, the stranded animals were not whales in the conventional sense but cetaceans closely related to dolphins.
Veterinarians from ARION’s network, cetacean experts, and coast guard officials conducted on-site examinations and say that, even if conservation groups were at the scene at the time of the stranding incident, it is highly unlikely that any of them would have survived. Necropsies and sample collections are now underway to determine the cause of death. Investigators are considering several possible factors, including disruptions to the animals’ sonar navigation system.
“Mass stranding is never random,” said HCMR scientist Marianna Giannoulaki in an interview on SKAI. “When multiple animals beach themselves in the same area at the same time, something has disoriented them. What exactly triggered this remains under investigation.”
ARION has urged the public to remain calm, avoid approaching the carcasses for health and safety reasons, and steer clear of misinformation. Citizens who observe new strandings are asked to contact the nearest Coast Guard station or ARION directly.
This is not the first time Cuvier’s beaked whales have stranded in Greek waters. Experts warn that naval exercises, underwater seismic activity, or pollution can interfere with cetacean sonar, but definitive answers will only come after laboratory analyses of the collected samples.
The results of the investigation are expected in the coming weeks.
