More than 50 whales have died in a mass stranding event in Western Australia as officials and volunteers race to save dozens of others stuck in shallow waters, authorities said.
In a statement on Facebook, the Parks and Wildlife Service of Western Australia said a large pod of long-finned pilot whales were spotted Tuesday morning near the state’s southern coast. “Sadly, 51 whales have died overnight after a mass stranding at Cheynes Beach,” the agency said, adding that staff and hundreds of volunteers were trying to save 46 other whales by returning them to deep water.
Wildlife researcher Vanessa Pirotta said it remains unknown why the pilot whales became stranded, but noted the pod demonstrated the rare behavior of huddling together prior to their beaching. “It could be that they are trying to avoid a predator, like a killer whale,” she said. Pilot whales are “very social and dynamic with strong bonds with others,” she said, meaning they could end up getting lost if they followed a disorientated pod member.
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