Entire pod of 89 pilot whales dies on Scottish beach in freak mass stranding

More than 80 pilot whales have died after mysteriously becoming stranded on a beach in Scotland. The mass stranding of the entire pod is thought to be the biggest the country has seen in nearly 30 years.

Locals reported the stranding to rescuers around 10:45 a.m. local time (5:45 a.m. ET) on Thursday (July 11), according to a statement from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR). The scene unfolded on a beach on Sanday, in the northern Scottish archipelago of Orkney. The stranded Animals were long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), which are actually large dolphins named after their unusually long pectoral fins.

By the time rescuers arrived later that day, 77 pilot whales had already been lying dead for several hours, their carcasses strewn high up across the beach, according to the statement. Twelve pilot whales were still alive, and the rescuers immediately performed health assessments and first aid.

But as the day drew on, the pilot whales' health took a dramatic plunge. Rescuers hoped the survivors would be able to swim off at high tide, but their efforts to refloat the animals were fruitless.

"The substrate they're on is also incredibly soft, meaning they have sunk even deeper into the sand when the tide washed over them, so they unfortunately weren't able to refloat themselves," BDMLR representatives wrote in the statement.

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The pilot whales may also have inhaled water with the incoming tide, worsening their condition, according to the statement.