this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2024
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UK Nature and Environment

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A mass stranding last week that led to the deaths of 77 pilot whales on the Orkney island of Sanday was the largest ever recorded of the species on British shores. Initially, 12 of the animals at Tresness beach were still alive – but sadly did not survive.

The event occurred almost exactly a year after the stranding of 55 pilot whales on Tolsta beach on the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides on 16 July 2023. All but one of those whales died. According to Dr Andrew Brownlow, director of the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) at Glasgow University, this may not be a coincidence.

“The Orkney stranding last week has so many parallels with what happened a year ago, in terms of number of animals involved and their behaviour,” he says.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

Whale cults. Just as suicidal as human cults.