Entire pod of 97 pilot whales dies in Australia beaching

Sydney (AFP) July 27, 2023

Nearly 100 pilot whales have died after beaching in Western Australia, wildlife officials said Thursday, following desperate rescue attempts. The pod of 97 long-finned pilot whales gathered in shallow water off Cheynes Beach, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) southeast of Perth, on Tuesday, with scores stranding themselves on the sand. By the next morning, 51 of the cetaceans had died.