Over 50 pilot whales tragically perished after being stranded on the Isle of Lewis in northwest Scotland, marking the largest mass stranding event in Britain since 2011. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity, which led the response efforts, reported that 55 whales, including adults and calves, were found stranded on the beach. Unfortunately, by the time rescuers arrived, a majority of the whales had already succumbed to their fate. Due to treacherous waves and shallow beach conditions, it was deemed unsafe to refloat the surviving whales, leading to the difficult decision to euthanize them on welfare grounds.
Out of the 55 whales, only one managed to survive and was successfully guided back out to sea. Regrettably, the other whale became stranded again and ultimately met the same fate. Saving stranded whales can be a frantic and challenging endeavor. These pilot whales, belonging to the same family as dolphins and porpoises, can grow up to 24 feet in length and weigh up to 6,600 pounds. When beached, they face the risk of self-inflicted injuries or the interruption of blood circulation, releasing toxins that prove fatal.
Daren Grover, the general manager of Project Jonah New Zealand, expressed that the stranded whales were likely part of the same family unit that had been traveling together for decades. The Zoological Society of London’s Cetacean Strandings Investigation Program has recorded over 17,000 stranded cetaceans, including pilot whales, dolphins, and porpoises, since its establishment in 1990. Last autumn, 230 pilot whales became beached on Tasmania’s western coast.
In 2011, around 70 pilot whales found themselves in shallow waters off the coast of Sutherland in Scotland. However, prompt action led to the successful refloating of 20 of these whales. This recent stranding presented significant challenges from the outset, as stated by Dan Jarvis, director of welfare and conservation at the rescue charity. The remote location of a secluded island and beach compounded with the lack of volunteers and limited equipment made the rescue efforts arduous. Furthermore, establishing new communication channels was crucial due to the absence of cellphone signal within a two-mile radius of the beach. The response involved over 50 responders, including volunteers, the coast guard, the police, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
The charity hypothesized that the whale pod may have followed one distressed whale ashore, potentially experiencing difficulties during childbirth. Pilot whales are known for their strong social bonds, leading to a chain reaction when one member is in distress. These highly social creatures are particularly susceptible to strandings, according to the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (S.M.A.S.S). The reasons behind accidental isolation can vary greatly, such as disturbances from sonar or a sick or injured whale misleading the pod.
A team from S.M.A.S.S. are currently collecting tissue samples to determine the cause of this stranding. However, it may take weeks or even months to reach a final conclusion.
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