77 whales washed ashore in Orkney, Scotland, in one of the largest mass strandings in recent decades.
British Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) divers found that 12 animals on Tresnes Beach were still alive at the time of the stranding. However, they were euthanized after rescuers failed to return them to the sea. Experts say it is too early to say what caused the stranding, writes the BBC.
The biggest stranding since 1995
By the way, this is the biggest stranding in Scotland since 1995, despite the fact that there have been some of a similar scale in recent years. According to the Natural History Museum of Great Britain, the largest stranding occurred in 1927, when 126 whales died, reports N1.
A spokesman for Orkney Council said discussions were underway with community representatives about how best to dispose of the animal carcasses:
"In previous circumstances where whales have stranded on our coast and subsequently died, our environmental health team's approach to disposing of the bodies has been to allow nature to take its course and advise the public to stay away from the area. Our assessment in this case, given the scale and likely consequences for public health, it is that clearer measures will need to be taken - for example burying them where they are or removing the bodies to a mass grave elsewhere," said a spokesman for Orkney Council.
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