29 Pilot Whales Perish Following Mass Stranding on Australian Coast

Over 100 long-finned pilot whales that were stranded on the shores of Western Australia have been successfully returned to the ocean, while 29 of them tragically lost their lives on the beach, according to wildlife officials.

According to New York Times, efforts are underway to remove the deceased whales from the beach, as stated by Pia Courtis, a regional wildlife officer with the Parks and Wildlife Service for Western Australia, during a news conference shared on social media. The agency is planning to collect biological samples and measurements from the deceased whales for further research.

After assisting the remaining whales back into the sea, marine officials and volunteers are closely monitoring the area with boats and a spotter plane to prevent them from returning to shore.

The four pods of 160 pilot whales were found stranded across approximately 1,640 feet of beach at the Toby Inlet near Dunsborough, Western Australia, as reported by local wildlife officials in a statement on social media.

Photos posted by the wildlife service on Facebook depicted rows of whales on the shore with onlookers witnessing the mass stranding.

The rescued whales have since moved further offshore and were last observed traveling north, according to the wildlife department.

As of now, the rescued whales have not returned to shore, but continuous monitoring is being conducted to ensure their safety, Ms. Courtis mentioned.

The cause of the stranding, which mainly involved adult females and a few calves, remains unknown. Experts have suggested various reasons for such incidents, including whales following a sick or stuck whale and getting stranded themselves, confusion due to human-induced undersea noise, or an attempt to evade predators. Australia has witnessed several mass strandings in recent years.

In July, a remote beach in Western Australia became the site of a tragic incident as nearly 100 long-finned pilot whales found themselves stranded in the shallow waters. Despite efforts to save them, over 50 of these magnificent creatures perished, and the remaining whales had to be euthanized later on.

Australia experienced one of its deadliest strandings in 2020, when a staggering 470 whales were beached along the coastline of Tasmania. Unfortunately, the majority of these whales did not survive the ordeal.

Pilot whales are remarkable creatures that can reach lengths of up to 24 feet and weigh as much as 6,600 pounds. When these whales become stranded, rescuers face a race against time due to the risk of their own weight crushing their organs once they are out of the water.

These social animals, whether short or long-finned, are known for their strong social bonds and tendency to live in large schools consisting of hundreds of whales. These schools are further divided into close-knit pods of 10 to 20 individuals, as stated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The occurrence of mass strandings on beaches serves as a poignant reminder of the deep social connections that exist among these remarkable creatures.