50+ pilot whales dead in mass stranding on Isle of Lewis in Scotland
Marine rescuers were sent to Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis after reports that scores of Pilot Whales were in distress.
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Tasmania state wildlife services personnel check the carcasses of pilot whales after they were found beached the previous day on Macquarie Heads on the west coast of Tasmania, on September 23, 2022. (AFP)
A pod of about 50 pilot whales died after collapsing on a Scottish shore.
Marine rescuers were sent to Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis around 7 a.m. on Sunday after reports that scores of the creatures were in distress. According to initial accounts, there were approximately 55 animals, including adults and calves, but only 15 survived.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) charity attempted to refloat two of the more active whales that were low in the water on the incoming tide, but one escaped. However, the other became stuck and died later, as did three more.
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At around 3.30 pm, it was decided that the remaining whales should be euthanised on welfare grounds. The origin of the stranding is uncertain, however, it is suspected that the pod followed one of the females.
BDMLR said: “One of the dead whales appeared to have had a vaginal prolapse – so it’s currently suspected that the whole pod stranded due to one female giving birth, adding that “Pilot whales are notorious for their strong social bonds, so often when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow.”
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On Sunday, the coastguard, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, police, and the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) were also on the scene. The Western Isles council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, stated that officers had been dispatched.
BDMLR added: “At about 3.30 pm, the local vet along with the coastguard, fire and rescue, and a forensics vet came to the conclusion that the shallow beach and rough wave conditions made it too unsafe to refloat the remaining animals... Considering how long the pilot whales had been out of the water in addition to the poor conditions, it was decided that they should be euthanized on welfare grounds."
SMASS will now examine the whales' postmortems to determine why they became stranded.
Pilot whales are members of the dolphin family and are the cetacean species most vulnerable to large strandings.
