Editing Exploding whale (section)

{{Short description|Phenomenon of a beached whale exploding due to explosives or decomposition}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
[[File:020904whale 210.jpg|right|thumb|1970 whale explosion in [[Florence, Oregon]], filmed by [[KATU (TV)|KATU]] news, one of the most widely reported cases of the exploding whale phenomenon. This explosion was intentionally caused using dynamite, but whale carcasses may also burst on their own.]]
There have been several cases of '''exploding whale''' [[Carrion|carcasses]] due to a buildup of gas in the [[decomposition]] process. This can occur when a [[whale]] [[Cetacean stranding|strands itself ashore]]. Actual explosives have also been used to assist in disposing of whale carcasses, ordinarily after towing the carcass out to sea, and as part of a [[beach cleaning]] effort.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=colliek2 |title=The Case of the Exploding Whale « Extension's Sustainable Tourism Blog |date=February 2022 |url=https://tourism.oregonstate.edu/the-case-of-the-exploding-whale/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527115433/https://tourism.oregonstate.edu/the-case-of-the-exploding-whale/ |archive-date=27 May 2022 |access-date=2022-04-14 |language=en-US}}</ref> It was reported as early as 1928, when an attempt to preserve a carcass failed due to faulty chemical usages.

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. The explosion threw whale flesh around {{convert|800|ft|m|-1|abbr=off}} away, and its odor lingered for some time. American humorist [[Dave Barry]] wrote about it in his newspaper column in 1990 after viewing television footage of the explosion, and later the same footage from news station [[KATU (TV)|KATU]] circulated on the Internet. It was also parodied in the 2007 American film ''[[Reno 911!: Miami]]'', the 2018 Australian film ''[[Swinging Safari (film)|Swinging Safari]]'', and the 2010 ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode, "[[The Squirt and the Whale]]". It has since been honored by the [[Eugene Emeralds]] of [[Minor League Baseball]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emeralds Announce “Exploding Whale” Alternate Identity |url=https://www.milb.com/news/emeralds-announce-exploding-whale-alternate-identity |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}</ref>

An example of a spontaneously bursting whale carcass occurred in Taiwan in 2004, when the buildup of gas inside a decomposing sperm whale caused it to burst in a crowded urban area while it was being transported for a post-mortem examination. Other cases, natural and artificial, have also been reported in Canada, South Africa, Iceland, Australia, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. Artificial explosions have also been imposed by governments, and approved by the [[International Whaling Commission]] in emergency situations. However, it has also been criticized for its long-lasting odor.<ref name=":0" />