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Dusty Dudley via Dusty DudleyOne of the dead whales had experienced a difficult birth. Dusty Dudley via Dusty Dudley<\/p>\nA \u201cmass stranding\u201d on a Scottish beach, which resulted in the death of 55 pilot whales, may have been caused after a female experienced a difficult birth.<\/p>\n
\u00a0At least 55 long-finned pilot whales washed up on Tolsta Beach in Lewis in July 2023.<\/p>\n
The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) launched an investigation and found that the whales were generally in good health before the stranding.<\/p>\n
But a post-mortem examination showed that one of the dead whales had experienced a difficult birth.<\/p>\n
Dusty Dudley via Dusty DudleyOne of the dead whales had experienced a difficult birth. Dusty Dudley via Dusty Dudley<\/p>\n
In its report, SMASS said that a mature female appeared to have had a vaginal prolapse.<\/p>\n
It is understood that this may have acted as a \u201cpossible social trigger\u201d for the mass stranding, due to the species\u2019 strong social bonds leading the group to follow the distressed animal into shallow water.<\/p>\n
Once stranded, the whales were unable to refloat themselves due to a combination of surf generated by onshore winds and the soft sand on the beach.<\/p>\n
Members of British Divers Marine Life Rescue and other volunteers attempted to save some of the animals.<\/p>\n
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Dusty Dudley via Dusty DudleyOver 50 pilot whales washed up on Tolsta Beach in Lewis in 2023 Dusty Dudley via Dusty Dudley<\/p>\n
Rescuers struggled with the remote location of the Outer Hebrides, with medics having to drive up to five miles to get phone service to communicate.<\/p>\n
Long-finned pilot whales are among the largest members of the dolphin family.<\/p>\n
Conservation charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation describes the species as having \u201cincredibly strong bonds\u201d.<\/p>\n
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