PERTH, Australia: Marine biologists and wildlife officials are engaged in a race against time to rescue over 100 pilot whales stranded on a beach in Western Australia, with fears that many of the whales may need to be euthanised.
The mass stranding occurred at Toby’s Inlet, located south of Perth, where as many as 160 pilot whales became beached, resulting in the death of 26 whales.
A team of wildlife officers, marine scientists, and veterinarians is on-site, working to guide some of the whales back into deeper waters. However, authorities anticipate that the beached whales may need to be euthanised as the most humane option.
Mass strandings of pilot whales are a recurring phenomenon in Australia and New Zealand, with significant casualties recorded in past incidents. The exact reasons behind these mass strandings remain unclear, though researchers speculate that whales may veer off course after feeding too close to shore.
Pilot whales, known for their social nature and large size, are prone to following pod-mates into hazardous situations, potentially leading to mass strandings when they navigate shallow coastal waters.
