When a whale is beached it is not afforded such a luxurious death. Gas builds up inside the whale as its stomach contents decompose -- but due to its thick, tough blubber and skin, it can't be released. A combination of heat and the whale's own body weight can cause orifices to close up, intensifying the problem. Likewise, people ask, can a beached whale explode?
If the gigantic beast is going to explode. While it smells fishy (sorry, sorry), it's totally true -- beached whales can -- and do -- explode. After the whale dies, gases (most specifically, methane) build up in the stomach and other organs.
Similarly, do whales explode after they die? There have been several cases of whale carcasses bursting due to a buildup of gas in the decomposition process. Actual explosives have also been used to assist in disposing of whale carcasses, ordinarily after towing the carcass out to sea. The explosion threw whale flesh over 800 feet (240 m) away.
Similarly, you may ask, why are beached whales dangerous?
Cetacean stranding, commonly known as beaching, is a phenomenon in which whales and dolphins strand themselves on land, usually on a beach. Beached whales often die due to dehydration, collapsing under their own weight, or drowning when high tide covers the blowhole.
Why do whales get beached?
Changes in the tides, melting icebergs and shifting food sources such as fish may force whales to relocate and wander off course causing them to swim into shallow waters or possibly even beach themselves. In some cases a whale may end up beached because it has already died and ended up washing ashore.
Related Question Answers
Why you shouldn't touch 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. Do whales beach themselves to die?
Cetacean stranding, commonly known as beaching, is a phenomenon in which whales and dolphins strand themselves on land, usually on a beach. Beached whales often die due to dehydration, collapsing under their own weight, or drowning when high tide covers the blowhole. How does a whale die?
Cetacean stranding, commonly known as beaching, is a phenomenon in which whales and dolphins strand themselves on land, usually on a beach. Beached whales often die due to dehydration, collapsing under their own weight, or drowning when high tide covers the blowhole. How do you get rid of a beached whale?
Two of the go-to methods for disposing of a whale carcass are hauling it back out to the ocean and leaving it to the elements, or burying it right there on the beach where it landed. Mr. Pearsall said the latter method was “quicker, safer and a little bit more polite” to the animal. Why do whales jump out the water?
You've just seen a humpback whale breaching. By leaping into the air or slapping the water with their fins, whales make major noise—noise that helps them communicate across large distances when background sounds from the weather, boats in the area, or other sources might block out their vocal noises. How do blue whales die?
Blue whales have few predators but are known to fall victim to attacks by sharks and killer whales, and many are injured or die each year from impacts with large ships. When a blue whale exhales, the spray from its blowhole shoots nearly 30 feet into the air. 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. Are orcas evil?
For a long time, in many cultures they were considered evil at worst, irritating pests at best. Captivity of killer whales became popular in Western cultures, starting in North America. People observed the intelligence, warmth and gentleness of orcas towards humans. How do whales die of old age?
Whale carcasses fall to the bottom of the deep sea, where they are first scavenged by large predators like sleeper sharks and hagfish. Then a host of other animals move in. A single whale carcass can support a whole community of small invertebrates, such as crabs and worms that feed on the oil-rich bones and tissues. What happens when a whale dies on land?
Cetacean stranding, commonly known as beaching, is a phenomenon in which whales and dolphins strand themselves on land, usually on a beach. Beached whales often die due to dehydration, collapsing under their own weight, or drowning when high tide covers the blowhole. How long does it take a whale to decompose?
The bacterial mats provide nourishment for mussels, clams, limpets and sea snails. As whale bones are rich in lipids, representing 4–6% of its body weight, the final digestion stage can last between 50 and possibly 100 years. Do whales ever drown?
It is actually rare for a marine mammal to "drown," as they won't inhale underwater; but they do suffocate from a lack of air. Being born underwater can cause problems for newborn whale and dolphin calves. It is the touch of air on the skin which triggers that first, crucial breath. What makes killer whales so dangerous?
Killer whale attack. Killer whales (or orcas) are powerful predators capable of killing leopard seals and great white sharks. They have also been recorded preying on usually terrestrial species such as moose swimming between islands. In the wild, there have been no fatal attacks on humans and only one reported bite. Why do whales breach and tail slap?
Humpback whales regularly leap out of the water and twist on to their backs – an action known as breaching – and slap their tails and fins in a repetitive fashion. The resulting sounds travel underwater and could possibly communicate messages to other whales. Which whales are dangerous?
Killer whales (or orcas) are powerful predators capable of killing leopard seals and great white sharks. They have also been recorded preying on usually terrestrial species such as moose swimming between islands. In the wild, there have been no fatal deaths on humans, but several attacks have been documented. Do whales sleep?
Observations of bottlenose dolphins in aquariums and zoos, and of whales and dolphins in the wild, show two basic methods of sleeping: they either rest quietly in the water, vertically or horizontally, or sleep while swimming slowly next to another animal. How do whales sleep without drowning?
Dolphins and beluga whales sleep by shutting down one hemisphere of their brain at a time. Because killer whales are physiologically similar to these species, it's thought that they sleep in the same way. While half of the killer whale's brain catches up on sleep, the other half controls the breathing. Why do whales jump?
You've just seen a humpback whale breaching. By leaping into the air or slapping the water with their fins, whales make major noise—noise that helps them communicate across large distances when background sounds from the weather, boats in the area, or other sources might block out their vocal noises. Are sperm whales dangerous to humans?
A sound of 180dB is enough to cause drastic cell death in your ears, but the most powerful sperm whale clicks will not merely deafen you: they can vibrate the fragile human body to pieces. Where can I find whale vomit?
Ambergris is primarily found in the Atlantic Ocean and on the coasts of South Africa, Brazil, Madagascar, the East Indies, The Maldives, China, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, and the Molucca Islands. Most commercially collected ambergris comes from the Bahamas in the Atlantic, particularly New Providence. How do whales get pneumonia?
They are likely to come into contact with new parasites that may affect the respiratory system. Captive cetaceans are usually small species, such as the dolphins, and are more easily handled. Whales captured under adverse conditions, aspirating dirty water, rapidly developed acute necrotizing pneumonia and died. How many whales get beached a year?
On average, about 300 dolphins and whales strand each year. Most stranding are of individual animals, but mass strandings are common and can involve hundreds of animals at a time. Why do the Japanese hunt whales?
Japan maintains that annual whaling is sustainable and necessary for scientific study and management of whale stocks, though the Antarctic minke whale populations have declined since the beginning of the JARPA program and those whales killed have shown increasing signs of stress. Why do whales sing?
Humpback whales may sing not to court mates but to help explore the seas around them. When a male humpback moves someplace new, he changes his song to match those coming from other nearby whales. But instead of learning songs to better attract females, Mercado suggests humpbacks do so to help navigate new locales. How do whales breathe?
Whales and dolphins are mammals and breathe air into their lungs, just like we do. They cannot breathe underwater like fish can as they do not have gills. They breathe through nostrils, called a blowhole, located right on top of their heads. How many whales are left in the world?
The present population worldwide is estimated to be 15,000 whales; with 2,000 of these living in CA coastal waters. 
