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Stranded pilot whales at Cheynes Beach in Western Australia: Mysterious mass stranding
Photo: Allan Marsh / dpa
Dozens of pilot whales are stranded on a beach in Western Australia. The marine mammals belonged to a larger herd that had previously gathered 100 meters off the coast for hours, reported the Australian broadcaster ABC, citing the Agency for Biodiversity and Nature Conservation (DBCA). In the afternoon (local time), most of the whales in the group began to be stranded at Cheynes Beach, east of the city of Albany.
The exact number of stranded animals is not consistent: The Guardian, for example, reports at least 50 animals, "9News" about 70.
A DBCA spokesperson urged onlookers not to approach the animals. Employees of the authority and volunteers tried to transport the pilot whales (also called pilot whales) back into the sea. "If we have healthy, viable animals, we will do everything we can to help," ABC quoted one of the experts involved as saying. Meanwhile, the reasons for the strange behavior of the animals are still unclear.
"Great pressure on their organs"
"When these animals lie on the beach for a long time, there is a lot of pressure on their organs due to the gravity and weight of their bodies," said marine mammal researcher Rebecca Wellard. Rescue attempts are very complicated. There is always the risk that the whales will be stranded again after their rescue.
Last year, 230 pilot whales were stranded on the Australian island of Tasmania. 200 of them died. In 2018, 100 animals died in Hamelin Bay, Western Australia. According to experts, pilot whales form extremely close bonds with each other. At certain times of the year, they travel in large groups, which increases the risk of mass stranding.
bbr/dpa