Marine mammal stranding data of New Caledonia: Province Iles (1977-2022)

Since 1991,we attempted to collect information on all stranding events occurring in New Caledonian waters. When examination of the carcass was possible, data were collected following guidelines set up by the French national stranding network, depending on the degree of decay.

We recommended at least noting the date, the precise location of the stranding (with geographical coordinates if possible), the state of decomposition of the carcass, the presence of scars that may indicate human interac- tion, the total length of the animal in order to estimate its age-class, photographs, and collection of a skin sample. When possible, teeth, stomach contents, parasites, and tissues (e.g. skin, muscle, liver, kidney) were collected and complete morphological measurements were made.