Heartbreaking images: Mystery with 160 whales on a beach – Big operation to save them – Newsbomb – News

The survival rates of beached whales are low, according to scientists

A dramatic rescue operation for dozens of whales was mounted in the coastal town of Dunsborough, south of Perth, Australia.

Specialists and volunteers who were in the area to help the whales return to the sea, managed to save 130 whales out of a total of 160 that “washed up” on the beach, while 28 did not make it.

However, the rescue operation continued from the air with a drone as there was a risk that the whales would return to shore

The mystery behind the stranding of whales

The survival rates of beached whales are low, according to scientists, as the animals “can only survive for about six hours on land.”

Like other species of whales, pilot whales are highly social and often look out for each other, especially if a member of the group becomes ill or injured. However, experts point out that this care is dangerous for the group, when the member ends up close to the shore and not in the open sea, dragging the whales into the shallows.