Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

50+ pilot whales dead in mass stranding on Isle of Lewis in Scotland

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 17 Jul 2023 16:48
2 Min Read

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.

  • x
  • 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)
    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.

Read next: Global warming drives killer whales north Arctic sea

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.

Related News

Massive blue whale washes ashore in southern Chile

Third time in a month: whale beaches itself, dies in Bali

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.”

Read next: 18-meter whale beaches itself and dies on shore in Indonesia

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.

  • Beached whale
  • whale
  • Traigh Mhor
  • Pilot whales
  • Scotland
  • Isle of Lewis

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS