Over 100 Pilot Whales Stranded in Western Australia, Many Likely to be Euthanized
Over 100 pilot whales were stranded on an Australian beach in Western Australia, with 26 of them already dead.
Marine biologists and officials are working to save the remaining whales, but many are expected to be euthanized due to their critical condition.
The mass stranding occurred at Toby's Inlet, about three hours south of Perth.
A team of experts, including wildlife officers, marine scientists, and veterinarians, are on site to assist.
A mass stranding of pilot whales occurred, with wildlife officers attempting to guide some back into deeper water.
However, most often, beached animals have to be euthanized as the most humane outcome.
Mass strandings of pilot whales are common in Australia and New Zealand, with around 500 dying on New Zealand's Chatham Islands in 2022.
The cause of these events is not fully understood, but researchers believe pods may go off course after feeding too close to shore, and their highly social nature may lead them to follow straying pod-mates into danger.