Scientists discover largest whale graveyard in Indian Ocean

A team of scientists has discovered the world's largest known whale graveyard in the Indian Ocean, approximately 7,000 metres below the surface. The findings, published in the journal Nature, reveal nearly 500 whale skeletons scattered along a 1,200-kilometre corridor on the seafloor west of Australia. Some fossils are estimated to be up to 5.3 million years old, making this the deepest and oldest such site ever recorded.

The discovery was made during deep-sea expeditions conducted by the Chinese submersible 'Fendouzhe' in 2023. Researchers carried out 32 dives into the Diamantina Fracture Zone, reaching depths of up to 7,000 metres. The skeletons were found in various stages of decomposition, providing valuable insight into deep-sea ecosystems and the life cycle of whales.

Whale graveyards are significant because they support unique biological communities. When a whale dies and sinks to the ocean floor, its carcass provides a sudden influx of nutrients, sustaining a diverse array of organisms for decades. The newly discovered site offers researchers an unprecedented opportunity to study these ecosystems over a long timescale.

The team plans further analysis of the skeletons to understand the historical population dynamics of whales in the region and the environmental conditions that facilitated such a large accumulation of remains.