Police have advised folks to steer clear of the seaside to provide the whales the most effective likelihood of survival (Image: BBC)
A pod of 55 pilot whales has died after a mass stranding on the seaside of a Scottish island.
Solely 15 had been alive after they washed onto Traigh Mhor seaside at North Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis at about 7am on Sunday morning.
Earlier within the day solely 15 had been reported alive with police telling the general public to remain away to provide them the most effective likelihood of surviving.
Rescuers had been known as to the scene to studies that dozens of the mammals had been in problem there on Sunday morning.
Marine medics attended and the newest replace from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) has mentioned they’ve now all died.
The BDMLR gave an replace that mentioned that one of many whales appeared to have had a vaginal prolapse.
This led them to suspect that the entire pod stranded because of one feminine giving delivery.
Pilot whales are identified for his or her sturdy social bonds, so usually when one whale will get into problem and strands, the remaining comply with.
Police instructed members of the general public to keep away from the realm to permit the mammals the best likelihood of survival.
Round 55 of the Pilot whales had been noticed on the seaside this morning (Image: BBC)
Pilot whales are small whales characterised as a part of the dolphin household.
An announcement from the BDMLR on Sunday mentioned:
‘This morning (Sunday sixteenth July 2023) round 7am, BDMLR had been alerted to a mass stranding of pilot whales on the Isle of Lewis through the Police.
‘Preliminary studies urged there have been round 55 animals consisting of each adults and calves, nonetheless shortly after this, it was reported that solely 15 had been nonetheless alive.
‘Our native Marine Mammal Medics attended and administered first assist to the surviving whales, and Medics from surrounding areas ready their equipment and organised transport to the island.
‘Rescue Coordinators additionally facilitated flying in additional refloatation pontoons from numerous areas throughout England and Scotland through Civil Air Help.
‘The HM coastguard, Fireplace and Rescue, and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) additionally attended.
‘One of many useless whales appeared to have had a vaginal prolapse – so it’s at present suspected that the entire pod stranded because of one feminine giving delivery.
‘Pilot whales are infamous for his or her sturdy social bonds, so usually when one whale will get into problem and strands, the remaining comply with.
It’s unclear why they’ve washed up on the seaside (Image: BBC)
Solely 10 of the animals are mentioned to nonetheless be alive (Image: Angus B MacNeil MP/Twitter)
‘There have been makes an attempt to refloat two of the extra lively whales that had been low down nonetheless within the water on the outgoing tide, however one subsequently restranded and subsequently died afterward, nonetheless the opposite animal did get away efficiently.
‘An additional 3 whales died, leaving 12 nonetheless alive – 8 adults and 4 calves.
‘At about 3:30pm, the native vet together with the Coastguard, Fireplace and Rescue, and a forensics vet got here to the conclusion that the shallow seaside and tough wave circumstances made it too unsafe to refloat the remaining animals.
‘Contemplating how lengthy the pilot whales had been out of the water along with the poor circumstances, it was determined that they need to be euthanised on welfare grounds.
‘We’d like to increase our due to the Lewis neighborhood, Stornoway Coastguard, Police, Stornoway and Shawbost Fireplace and Rescue, SMASS, SSPCA, Civil Air Help, CalMac and naturally our devoted workforce of Medics who all got here collectively of their efforts to rescue these whales.
‘A tragic consequence for this pod and clearly not the end result we had been all hoping for.
‘SMASS might be finishing up examinations of the our bodies to conclude the reason for the stranding. We nonetheless advise that members of the general public keep away from the realm to make sure that any autopsy examinations can happen with out interference.
‘Our workforce within the Western Isles are desperately in need of response gear now, and we’re interesting for any assist with donations that may go instantly in direction of supporting them by visiting our Justgiving web page right here: https://www.justgiving.com/marketing campaign/BDMLRouterhebrides
Rescuers have been serving to all day (Image: BBC)
‘Thanks for any assist you may give.’
‘We is not going to be reporting the situation of the mass stranding till the scenario is resolved.
‘We advise that members of the general public keep away from the realm to make sure that our medics and different professionals can attend simply and work effectively so the workforce can assess the survivors and decide what may be executed.’
A Police Scotland spokesman mentioned: ‘Officers are at present helping companions with quite a few stranded pilot whales on the seaside at Tolsta, Stornoway.
‘To permit the dolphins the most effective likelihood of survival, please keep away from the realm.’
A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Company mentioned it was ‘responding to studies of mammals beached at Traigh Mhor on Isle of Lewis’ on Sunday July 16.
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