Largest mass stranding in decades: 77 pilot whales dead in Orkney

In a tragic mass stranding event, 77 pilot whales have died on a beach in Orkney, marking one of the most significant and largest stranding events in Scotland since at least 1995.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) responded swiftly to reports of the stranded whales on Tresness Beach, Isle of Sanday, discovering that only 12 of the whales were still alive. Despite efforts to refloat them, the decision was made to euthanise the surviving whales due to their deteriorating condition.

The BDMLR highlighted the condition of stranded animals and the challenges they face out of water, including crushing injuries from their own weight and the risk of inhaling water from incoming tides. The soft substrate of the beach made it impossible for the whales to refloat themselves.

In a statement, the BDMLR said, “Sadly the remaining 12 pilot whales have been euthanised due to their condition deteriorating from the many hours they have spent stranded on the beach.”

The exact cause of the stranding remains unknown, but experts suggest that one whale likely encountered trouble, prompting the rest of the pod to follow.

The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) is set to carry out post-mortem examinations on the whales. The BDMLR cautioned that this process will be extensive and that complete results may take some time to be available. The organization also expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by local volunteer rescuers and farmers.

Mass strandings are not unprecedented in the region. Last year, a similar incident occurred on the Isle of Lewis, where all 55 stranded pilot whales died. In 2011, between 60 and 70 whales were stranded in shallow waters in Sutherland.

The largest recorded UK stranding took place in 1927 when 126 false killer whales died in the Dornoch Firth in the Highlands. This recent tragedy in Orkney is a reminder of the challenges faced by marine life and the ongoing efforts to understand and mitigate such events.

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