More than 50 whales die after mass stranding in Scotland

More than 50 pilot whales have died after they had been washed up on a Scottish seaside.

Marine rescuers raced to the scene at Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, on Sunday morning after studies that dozens of the mammals appeared trapped and unable to get again out to sea.

But it quickly turned out that solely 15 of the small pilot whales had been nonetheless alive.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) tried to refloat two of the extra lively whales that had been nonetheless low down within the water on the outgoing tide and one received away.

However, the opposite subsequently restranded and died in a while, as did three others.

At round 3.30pm it was determined that the remaining whales must be put down on the grounds it will be extra humane.

The reason for the stranding shouldn’t be recognized, however it’s thought the pod could have adopted one of many females. Pilot whales develop to about 4-6 metres in size and stay for between 40 and 60 years.

The species is thought for mass stranding.

An announcement from the BDMLR charity stated: “One of the lifeless whales appeared to have had a vaginal prolapse – so it is presently suspected that the entire pod stranded attributable to one feminine giving start.

“Pilot whales are notorious for their strong social bonds, so often when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow.”

The Coastguard, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, police and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) had been additionally on the seaside on Sunday.

Western Isles Council stated it had officers on the scene.

BDMLR added: “At about 3.30pm, 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 lengthy the pilot whales had been out of the water, along with the poor situations, it was determined that they need to be euthanised on welfare grounds.

“We’d like to extend our thanks to the Lewis community, Stornoway Coastguard, police, Stornoway and Shawbost Fire and Rescue, SMASS, SSPCA, Civil Air Support, CalMac and of course our dedicated team of medics who all came together in their efforts to rescue these whales.

“A tragic consequence for this pod and clearly not the result we had been all hoping for.”

SMASS will now perform autopsy examinations on the whales to analyze why they stranded.