Officials and volunteers raced to save dozens of other whales trapped in shallow waters after a mass stranding event in Western Australia claimed the lives of more than 50 whales. A sizable group of long-finned pilot whales were spotted close to the state’s southern coast, and 51 whales perished the following day at Cheynes Beach following a mass stranding.
By returning them to deep water, staff members and a large number of volunteers were attempting to save 46 additional whales. Social media videos show dozens of the whales huddling together and flapping their tails in shallow waters while remaining motionless.
Wildlife officials issued warnings against large, distressed, and potentially ill whales, sharks, waves, heavy machinery, and vessels, and urged the public to stay away from the beach. The black color and bulbous foreheads of long-finned pilot whales, which can reach lengths of 25 feet (7.6 meters), make them easy to recognize.
Vanessa Pirotta, a whale researcher, said the reason the pilot whales ended up stranded is still unknown, but she did point out their unusual behavior of huddling together just before they hit the sand. Because of their strong social bonds and social nature, pilot whales could become lost if they followed a member of the pod who had become disoriented.
