20 September 2023 , 18:58
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Incredible yet gruesome footage captured the moment a dead whale exploded, spewing blood and innards about as horrified whale watchers looked on at the floating carcass.
The boaters were on a trip in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, searching for whales when they stumbled across what many believe to be a lifeless humpback.
As they watched and filmed, the whale's front end ruptured, spewing blood everywhere. Then, its guts started spilling out, starting with its spleen and a couple of other massive organs before its intestines followed, snaking out into the open water, squelching as they shot out from the carcass.
The beginning of the video shows the bloated whale floating in the sea (ozzymansvideolicensing / Instagram)
The explosion was described as a final burp (ozzymansvideolicensing / Instagram)Finally, the creature sank to the bottom of the ocean to its final resting place, where it will likely become food for sharks and other bottom feeders, who will tear apart the remainder of the carcass over about 30 years, reported National Geographic.
"An entire whale represents a massive influx of food," Andrew David Thaler, a marine biologist, told the publication. "Entire communities grow around these 'whalefalls.'"
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The whale explosion was caused by a buildup of methane in the creature's body (ozzymansvideolicensing / Instagram)
The guts spilled out from the whale with loud squelches (ozzymansvideolicensing / Instagram)The video, which was first posted on the Instagram account for Ozzy Man's Video Licensing in January, was later reposted on the popular nature account Nature is Metal, where it garnered nearly 200,000 likes and over 2,700 comments.
Nature is Metal detailed why the whale exploded, stating that it was due to a build-up of methane gas caused by bacteria feasting on the decaying internal organs. The gas pressurised the creature's innards, eventually causing the explosion as it sought release from the thick, blubbery skin and muscle tissue.
That, paired with the cold temperature of the water, which was likely slowing the decay of the beast's tough exterior, resulted in a "recipe for detonation," the account stated.
As the guts spill from the whale, the gases leak out, too, allowing it to sink (ozzymansvideolicensing / Instagram)
The whale will be feasted upon for 30 years at the bottom of the ocean (ozzymansvideolicensing / Instagram)A man can be heard in the video shouting, "This is a National Geographic moment!" Another expresses pride in having captured the entire ordeal on video.
Several Instagrammers flocked to the comments, eager to share the funny memes they had composed about the incident. One hilariously commented, "This is what a pumpkin spice frozen coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts would do to a medieval peasant." Another chimed in and wrote, "I know that smell was CRAZY," while yet another joked: "My dog after eating the 7-11 spicy hotdog I had on the counter."
Many other commenters commended the cameraman for capturing the shocking moment, saying that he "knew his job for sure." "How good is the timing of the video?" one user wrote.