{"id":14202,"date":"2024-07-22T10:37:46","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T09:37:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/?p=14202"},"modified":"2024-07-22T10:37:48","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T09:37:48","slug":"whale-beachings-are-on-the-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/07\/whale-beachings-are-on-the-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Drowned Out: Why Whale Beachings Are On The Rise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light curved-bottom\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1714\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-14203\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-2048x1371.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\"><h1 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-post-title\">Drowned Out: Why Whale Beachings Are On The Rise<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2024-07-22T10:37:46+01:00\">22 July 2024<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"lead\">Following the tragic mass beaching of 77 pilot whales on World Population Day, we assess how human activity is damaging the world\u2019s oceans and having catastrophic effects on the survival of marine species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Population Matter<\/strong>s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On 11 July, we observed <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/07\/world-population-day-inspiring-changemakers-and-10-3-billion\/\">World Population Day,<\/a> where the UN announced humanity is likely to grow to a population of over <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/07\/the-road-to-10-billion-world-population-projections-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10.3 billion people in the next 60 years.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the same day, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c3g6xzrxy35o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pod of 77 pilot whales<\/a> were discovered stranded in a mass beaching on the island of Sanday, Orkney. Unfortunately, refloating efforts to rescue the whales failed, and all 77 died at the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we recognise the continued unsustainable growth of the human population, we must also consider how humanity has altered the Earth\u2019s biosphere to such an extent that no area, including the world\u2019s oceans, has been spared from our impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/naja-bertolt-jensen-BJUoZu0mpt0-unsplash-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/naja-bertolt-jensen-BJUoZu0mpt0-unsplash-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/naja-bertolt-jensen-BJUoZu0mpt0-unsplash-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/naja-bertolt-jensen-BJUoZu0mpt0-unsplash-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/naja-bertolt-jensen-BJUoZu0mpt0-unsplash-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/naja-bertolt-jensen-BJUoZu0mpt0-unsplash-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">MASS whale BEACHINGs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The exact cause of the recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/article\/2024\/jul\/18\/pilot-whale-stranding-scottish-beach-sanday-orkney-cetaceans-sound\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Orkney Island pilot whale beaching<\/a> has not yet been determined, but the event follows a pattern of similar mass strandings in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since records began in 1992, there have been 13 mass strandings of pilot whales in the region. 10 of these have occurred in the last decade alone, with researchers fearing that mass strandings of pilot whales are becoming more frequent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year, a pod of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-66215683\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">55 pilot whales died following a mass beaching on the Isle of Lewis.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The name &#8220;pilot&#8221; comes from the tendency of these whales to follow a matriarchal leader of the pod. These close-knit social bonds can contribute to mass beaching events, where if one whale beaches themselves, the other whales respond to its distressed calls and can end up following an ailing individual ashore, resulting in the whole pod of whales beached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pilot whales typically inhabit the Mediterranean Sea. In recent years, warming waters around Scotland, <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/climate-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">due to anthropogenic climate change<\/a>, has attracted pilot whales closer to the Scottish shoreline in search of prey and to birth their calves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The herd mentality of pilot whales also makes them incredibly vulnerable to underwater noise pollution from busy fishing and oil drilling activity in the North Sea. This noise pollution scares or disorients them and increases the risk of mass beaching incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/bertrand-borie-Ov3J6MYaHio-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14205\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/bertrand-borie-Ov3J6MYaHio-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/bertrand-borie-Ov3J6MYaHio-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/bertrand-borie-Ov3J6MYaHio-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/bertrand-borie-Ov3J6MYaHio-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/bertrand-borie-Ov3J6MYaHio-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Noise Pollution<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The ocean is becoming an ever more noisy place, due to shipping, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/why-whales-flee-sonar-sometimes-their-death\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">military sonar installations<\/a> and energy exploration. This negatively impacts the ability of marine animals, such as whales, which rely on sound to navigate, communicate and hunt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the same way, it\u2019s hard for two humans to hear one another on a busy road, noise generated by a ship\u2019s engines can mask sounds that marine mammals use to communicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Researchers suspect in the case of pilot whales, underwater noise pollution from shipping traffic may have scared the whales or disrupted their navigation, resulting in the pilot whales drawing dangerously close to the shallow coastline and beaching themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year, the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/resources\/vanishing-icons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vanishing Icons<\/a><\/em> report covered the impact of underwater noise pollution preventing the <a href=\"https:\/\/uk.whales.org\/whales-dolphins\/how-we-help\/southern-resident-orcas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">endangered Southern Resident Orcas <\/a>from hunting effectively, harming conservation efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The impacts of population growth are evident in both the increased number of people and the contributing demand for energy and shipped goods. Though we may not be able to see the effects of this directly, whales and many other marine creatures will be suffering from its effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ian-taylor-jOqJbvo1P9g-unsplash-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ian-taylor-jOqJbvo1P9g-unsplash-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ian-taylor-jOqJbvo1P9g-unsplash-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ian-taylor-jOqJbvo1P9g-unsplash-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ian-taylor-jOqJbvo1P9g-unsplash-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ian-taylor-jOqJbvo1P9g-unsplash-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>More Waste, More Demand<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sas.org.uk\/plastic-pollution\/plastic-pollution-facts-figures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">12 million tons of plastic waste end up in the ocean every single year<\/a>, ending up in <a href=\"https:\/\/education.nationalgeographic.org\/resource\/great-pacific-garbage-patch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">giant trash islands<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/stories\/what-do-sea-turtles-eat-unfortunately-plastic-bags\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">consumed by marine life.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/dustan-woodhouse-RUqoVelx59I-unsplash-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14207\" style=\"width:643px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/dustan-woodhouse-RUqoVelx59I-unsplash-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/dustan-woodhouse-RUqoVelx59I-unsplash-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/dustan-woodhouse-RUqoVelx59I-unsplash-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/dustan-woodhouse-RUqoVelx59I-unsplash-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/dustan-woodhouse-RUqoVelx59I-unsplash-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Our growing population\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/03\/global-resources-dwindling-as-demand-rises\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rising demand for resources<\/a> is also driving pressure on the tense issue of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/scientists-ap-puerto-rico-san-juan-jamaica-b2580240.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">deep-sea mining for precious minerals.<\/a> Scientists warn that deep-sea mining would have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wri.org\/insights\/deep-sea-mining-explained\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">catastrophic effects on the marine ecosystem<\/a>, unleashing huge volumes of noise, light and suffocating dust storms in a naturally dark and silent environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FINAL THoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>If we are truly concerned about the ocean and the future, we have to take population growth into account. Our planet and all its ecosystems have a carrying capacity. Every individual, whether a small consumer or a large consumer, draws from nature either to meet basic daily nutritional requirements or luxuries. Our population growth matters. Populations matter.<\/em><\/p>\n<cite>Daniel C\u00e1ceres Bartra, <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/06\/should-population-be-part-of-the-ocean-conservation-conversation\/\">Change Champion 2024<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The mass beaching of the 77 pilot whales in Orkney is a sad, shocking story and there&#8217;s a real risk it could become a common event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If our rising numbers and unsustainable demand continue to increase harmful underwater noise pollution and mounting plastic waste, then the world&#8217;s oceans will become an increasingly inhospitable environment for marine life.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the mass beaching of the Orkney pilot whales to occur on World Population Day, is a sobering reminder that we must not just consider the human population, but recognise the importance of protecting all the other magnificent species that we share this planet with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-share\"><a class=\"fb-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2F%3Fp%3D14202\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 32H48A48 48 0 0 0 0 80v352a48 48 0 0 0 48 48h137.25V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.27c-30.81 0-40.42 19.12-40.42 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V480H400a48 48 0 0 0 48-48V80a48 48 0 0 0-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg> Share<\/div><\/a><a class=\"tw-share\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2F%3Fp%3D14202&amp;text=Drowned%20Out%3A%20Why%20Whale%20Beachings%20Are%20On%20The%20Rise\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z\"><\/path><\/svg> Tweet<\/div><\/a><a class=\"li-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2F%3Fp%3D14202&amp;text=Drowned%20Out%3A%20Why%20Whale%20Beachings%20Are%20On%20The%20Rise\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg> Post<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-blue-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-grid grid grid-3\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/biodiversity\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Biodiversity<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jenna-lee-122713-unsplash_crop-768x413.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-2180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jenna-lee-122713-unsplash_crop-768x413.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jenna-lee-122713-unsplash_crop-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jenna-lee-122713-unsplash_crop-1024x551.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jenna-lee-122713-unsplash_crop-1536x826.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/jenna-lee-122713-unsplash_crop-2048x1101.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Nature is under pressure as never before. One million species are under the threat of extinction. Our human population is one of the drivers of the biodiversity crisis. Learn more. <\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/07\/the-road-to-10-billion-world-population-projections-2024\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>The Road to 10 Billion: World Population Projections 2024<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/austin-curtis-DBBNVG_ajrg-unsplash-768x512.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-13962\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/austin-curtis-DBBNVG_ajrg-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/austin-curtis-DBBNVG_ajrg-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/austin-curtis-DBBNVG_ajrg-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/austin-curtis-DBBNVG_ajrg-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/austin-curtis-DBBNVG_ajrg-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>The United Nations has today released its updated population projections up to 2100. It predicts there\u2019ll be another two billion people on the planet by 2061, peaking at 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Following the tragic mass beaching of 77 pilot whales on World Population Day, we assess how human activity is damaging the world\u2019s oceans and having catastrophic effects for the survival of the world\u2019s marine species.","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":14203,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,24],"tags":[10,14],"class_list":["post-14202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-news-story","tag-biodiversity","tag-environment"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Whale 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