Of the pilot whales stranded off the coast of Australia, 130 of the 160 were rescued. Helpers held the whales’ heads above water in shallow water so they could breathe. Ultimately, most of the animals managed to get back into deeper water.
“This is a great result,” whale expert Vanessa Pirotta told 7News on Friday. Department of Endangered Species Conservation staff, veterinarians and hundreds of volunteers had spent hours trying to save the animals in distress.
A baby was among the animals that died. Some volunteers burst into tears at the sight of the dead whales.
“These thirty or so specimens will contribute to science,” Pirotta emphasized. It is important to study the behavior of whales before a stranding to understand why entire pods swim to shore. “Because once they get to land, the clock starts ticking – and we don’t know what happened before.”
Worry that animals could become stranded again
There was a shark warning on Friday in the region around the small town of Dunsborough, 250 kilometers south of Perth. Predators are often attracted to whale carcasses. There were also lingering concerns that the rescued animals could return and become stranded again – a phenomenon that has been observed in the past.
Mass strandings of whales continue to baffle research to this day. One theory is that sick or injured animals get lost and the others follow them.
Pilot whales in particular, which often travel in large groups, build extremely close bonds with each other. Experts also believe it is possible for whales to become disoriented due to acoustic pollution, such as marine sonars.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
