Mass whale stranding may have been caused by 'difficult birth'

A “mass stranding” on a Scottish beach, which resulted in the death of 55 pilot whales, may have been caused after a female experienced a difficult birth.

 At least 55 long-finned pilot whales washed up on Tolsta Beach in Lewis in July 2023.

The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) launched an investigation and found that the whales were generally in good health before the stranding.

But a post-mortem examination showed that one of the dead whales had experienced a difficult birth.

Dusty Dudley via Dusty Dudley

In its report, SMASS said that a mature female appeared to have had a vaginal prolapse.

It is understood that this may have acted as a “possible social trigger” for the mass stranding, due to the species’ strong social bonds leading the group to follow the distressed animal into shallow water.

Once stranded, the whales were unable to refloat themselves due to a combination of surf generated by onshore winds and the soft sand on the beach.

Members of British Divers Marine Life Rescue and other volunteers attempted to save some of the animals.

Dusty Dudley via Dusty Dudley

Rescuers struggled with the remote location of the Outer Hebrides, with medics having to drive up to five miles to get phone service to communicate.

Long-finned pilot whales are among the largest members of the dolphin family.

Conservation charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation describes the species as having “incredibly strong bonds”.

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