In total, 130 whales were returned to sea after a total of 160 were beached, according to the department of Parks and Wildlife Service Western Australia (DPAW).
Also present were wildlife officials from the DPAW, as well as experienced veterinarians, trying to save as many whales as possible.
Like other whale species, pilot whales are highly sociable often looking out for each other especially if a member of the pod falls sick or is injured.
“That may or may not have been a factor of why these animals got to the point of stranding.”Last year more than 50 pilot whales died in a mass stranding event in Scotland.
The same month wildlife officials in Western Australia said they had to make a heart-breaking decision to euthanize dozens of stranded long-finned pilot whales after a frantic rescue effort to refloat them failed to yield results.
Persons:
”, Ian Wiese, I’ve, ” Wiese, ” Weise, “, Busselton Wildli, you’ve
Organizations:
CNN, Rescue, Geographe Marine Research, Parks and Wildlife Service Western Australia
Locations:
Dunsborough, Perth, Toby's, Australia, Scotland, Western Australia