Nearly 100 pilot whales huddled together for almost a day in shallow waters off the coast of Western Australia before beaching themselves on the shores. 52 whales died during the beaching, and the rest of the pod was eventually euthanised.
The pod huddled together, forming a circle shape, spreading out into a straight line, and even forming a loose heart shape for a few moments.
Researchers were confused by the behaviour, and began to fear a mass beaching.
Marine mammal ecologist at the University of Western Australia Kate Sprogis said that ‘Healthy pilot whales don’t generally behave like this, and when you see it, you think there’s something odd going on.’
On Tuesday afternoon, 25 July, the pod swam to the shore and stranded themselves on Cheynes Beach by Albany.
‘ Once a pilot whale is out of the water, its organs can be gradually crushed under its own weight. Even when whales are successfully returned to sea, they will often strand themselves again,’ The New York Times reported
Conservation officials and volunteers rushed to rescue the whales, but by Wednesday morning, 52 had died. The rescue team worked to herd the remaining whales out to sea, but they restranded themselves further up the beach. Officials said that the survivors had to be euthanised.
Researchers are unsure why mass strandings happen. One of their theories is that once the matriarch falls ill and swims to shallow water, the rest of the pod members follow. Their second theory is that loud offshore underwater sounds disorientated the pod.
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