Over 50 pilot whales met a tragic fate as they washed up on the shores of Scotland’s Isle of Lewis on July 17th. Reports indicate that a total of 55 whales, comprising both adult and calf individuals, were discovered, with a mere 15 remaining alive.
When marine rescuers from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) charity noticed the distressing situation, they swiftly responded, rushing to Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta. Their primary focus was to assist the dozens of struggling whales.
Among the efforts made, the BDMLR officials attempted to re-float two of the more active whales that were closer to the water’s surface during the outgoing tide. Despite their dedicated endeavors, the tragic outcome could not be averted.
Contrary to their name, pilot whales are actually one of the largest members of the dolphin family. They can be categorized into two species: the short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), typically found in tropical and warm-temperate regions, and the long-finned pilot whale (G. melas), which inhabits colder waters.
These whales possess distinctive features, including a round, bulging forehead, a short beak-like snout, and slender, pointed flippers. While the short-finned and long-finned pilot whales share a similar appearance, their flipper lengths differ significantly. Both species generally measure between 4 to 6 meters in length, with males being larger than females.
Most pilot whales exhibit a black coloration, but some individuals bear a pale, elongated anchor-shaped marking on their throat and chest. These social creatures typically reside in groups numbering from dozens to hundreds, forming tight-knit communities in their oceanic habitats.