Photo courtesy of British Divers Marine Life Rescue.
A pod of 55 pilot whales found washed ashore on a beach in Scotland has died in what marine experts are calling the worst mass whale stranding in the area.
Just arrived at Stornoway to investigate what seems to be the largest fatal mass #stranding event we've had in Scotland for decades. Over fifty #PilotWhales sadly confirmed dead. pic.twitter.com/bOKTnrqD8l
— SMASS (@strandings) July 16, 2023
Marine rescuers, the coast guard and police found just 15 of the whales alive when they got to the beach on the Isle of Lewis early yesterday.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue tried to refloat two of them, but by late yesterday afternoon, the team decided the remaining whales should be euthanized on welfare grounds.
Experts think the pod may have followed a female whale onto the beach when she had problems giving birth.