{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.exploding-whale","code":"thing-q718694","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q718694/","name":"exploding whale","alternateNames":[],"kind":"thing","status":"research-draft","version":"0.2.0-wave.4","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Activities and processes","entryKind":"thing","plane":"ACT","domain":["ACT.EVT"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"An exploding whale is an event in which a whale carcass bursts, either from the build-up of decomposition gases inside a bloated dead whale, which can rupture with force during handling, or through deliberate use of explosives to dispose of a beached carcass, most famously the 1970 Florence, Oregon case where authorities used dynamite with messy results; such events pose public safety and health risks from flying debris and pathogens. Beached whales and carcasses should be reported to authorities, and the public should keep away, following official guidance.","purpose":"Let an agent explain exploding whale events, relay the causes, the notable Oregon case and safety and disposal issues from news and marine mammal sources with the famous case attributed, and distinguish gas-driven bursting from deliberate demolition and from routine carcass disposal.","scope":{"in":[],"out":[],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Whale carcass bursting","Gas or explosives driven","Public safety hazard","Notable Oregon case"],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"understand","name":"Understand","description":"What an exploding whale is.","layers":[{"id":"definition","name":"Definition","description":"Definition.","findings":[{"id":"definition-finding","name":"Definition","description":"Definition.","questions":[{"text":"Is there a beached whale or bloated carcass, in which case keep away and report it to authorities or a stranding network?","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"What is an exploding whale, and how does gas-driven bursting differ from deliberate demolition and routine disposal?","kind":"definition"}]}]},{"id":"causes","name":"Causes","description":"Causes.","findings":[{"id":"causes-finding","name":"Causes","description":"Causes.","questions":[{"text":"How does decomposition gas cause a carcass to burst?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which entry fits whale beaching?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"cases","name":"Cases","description":"Notable cases.","layers":[{"id":"oregon","name":"Oregon","description":"1970 Oregon case.","findings":[{"id":"oregon-finding","name":"Oregon","description":"Oregon.","questions":[{"text":"What happened in the 1970 Florence, Oregon exploding whale case, as reported?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is the presentation neutral and attributed?","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"others","name":"Others","description":"Other cases.","findings":[{"id":"others-finding","name":"Others","description":"Others.","questions":[{"text":"What other whale-bursting incidents have been reported?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which references are standard?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"safety","name":"Safety","description":"Safety and disposal.","layers":[{"id":"hazards","name":"Hazards","description":"Hazards.","findings":[{"id":"hazards-finding","name":"Hazards","description":"Hazards.","questions":[{"text":"What safety and health hazards do carcass bursts pose?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which sources are cited?","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"disposal","name":"Disposal","description":"Carcass disposal.","findings":[{"id":"disposal-finding","name":"Disposal","description":"Disposal.","questions":[{"text":"How are large whale carcasses disposed of safely today?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is the information current?","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"context","name":"Context","description":"Strandings.","layers":[{"id":"stranding","name":"Stranding","description":"Whale strandings.","findings":[{"id":"stranding-finding","name":"Stranding","description":"Stranding.","questions":[{"text":"How are whale strandings responded to by authorities?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits cetacean stranding?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"decomposition","name":"Decomposition","description":"Decomposition.","findings":[{"id":"decomposition-finding","name":"Decomposition","description":"Decomposition.","questions":[{"text":"Why do large carcasses build up gas as they decompose?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is the information accurate?","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Explain why whale carcasses can burst and describe documented cases.","Advise the public to keep away from beached whales and report them to authorities."],"mustNot":["Approach, cut or puncture a bloated whale carcass without authorization and protection.","Advise using explosives to dispose of a carcass.","Encourage crowds to gather near a stranded or dead whale.","Take parts of a protected whale as souvenirs."],"requiresHuman":["Any decision on how to dispose of a whale carcass."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Bursting carcasses can injure people and spread pathogens.","Whales are protected and their bodies hold scientific value."],"affectedParties":["Beach visitors","Responders and researchers","Coastal communities"]},"owners":{"steward":"The coastal or wildlife authority that responds to strandings.","roles":[],"masterSystems":["Marine mammal stranding networks"]},"relations":[{"target":"Q5421292","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"exploding animal","type":"related","note":"in registry terms"},{"target":"decomposition","type":"related"},{"target":"carcass disposal","type":"related"},{"target":"whale beaching","type":"related"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.exploding-whale","Wikidata: Q718694 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718694)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"not-applicable","items":["Oregon case: 1970 year - Florence, Oregon","cause: decomposition gas or explosives note","registry parent: exploding animal note"]},"recognition":{"applicability":"optional","items":["Bursting of a whale carcass","Exploding whale","Gas-driven bursting is from decomposition; deliberate demolition uses explosives; routine disposal buries, renders or tows carcasses","A bloated whale carcass that ruptures, scattering tissue and gas."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["explain causes","relay the notable case","relay safety and disposal","distinguish the two mechanisms"]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Injury from flying debris","Pathogen exposure","Approaching a bloated carcass"]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["Marine mammal stranding response protocols","Public health rules for carcass disposal"]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Not applicable; a hazardous event with a beached whale carcass.","spontaneous gas-driven bursting","deliberate explosive disposal"]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q718694: exploding whale","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718694","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Exploding whale","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploding_whale","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Should the Oregon case be an instance entry?","How should stranding response guidance be linked?","Should carcass disposal methods be documented?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q718694/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q718694/spec.json"],"providers":["Claude"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-14T02:19:08Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"not-applicable","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"interaction.properties":"Plane ACT: no invented physical properties."},"score":1.0}}