AssetID: 52920865
Headline: 100 Whales Strand Themselves On Australian Beach Following Mysterious Behaviour
Caption: **RAW VIDEO** This video footage and these images show a large pod of pilot whales that grouped themselves together in a heart shape before stranding themselves on a beach in Western Australia on Tuesday and Wednesday (25-26July2023). Officials are baffled by the bizarre behaviour of around 100 whales moved tightly together before stranding themselves at Cheynes beach about 60km east of Albany on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, more than 50 whales lay dead on the beach, with a host of volunteers, government workers and scientists battling to save the remaining 45 whales. Researchers are at a loss to behave the behaviour of the whales before the stranding - as they have never seen it before. Western Australia’s environment minister, Reece Whitby wrote on Facebook: “The stranding is heartbreakingly tragic and so very sad. What drives volunteers is the hope we can save those still alive. “As you’d expect, it’s difficult, emotional work - the volunteers told me they can’t help but become attached to the animals they’re trying to rescue. I’m so impressed by them.” The rescue operation used slings to drag the pilot whales out to sea. The animals weigh about 1,000kg and are up to 4 metres long. Despite the rescue and attempts, and the hard work of those helping keeping the whales alive throughout Wednesday, many later re-stranded themselves further along the beach. Sadly, two whales died of natural causes and experts subsequently decided that the most humane option for the other 43 whales was to euthanise them.
Keywords: whales,pilot whales,natural world,nature,offbeat,tragedy,oceans,australia,cetaceans,stranding,beach
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