A challenging rescue at Dunsborough coast, Australia

Around 160 pilot whales have washed up off the coast of Dunsborough, Australia. An unprecedented large-scale joint rescue operation managed to save as many as 130

Yesterday, along the coast of Dunsborough, south of Perth in Australia, a true race against time unfolded. In a significant effort, volunteers and local authorities worked tirelessly for hours with the aim of saving over 160 pilot whales that had stranded on the beach.

Unfortunately, about 30 of these majestic marine creatures died, but fortunately, the courage and dedication of the rescue teams led to the saving of the majority of the animals.

According to the Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW), as many as 130 pilot whales were returned to the sea thanks to the joint efforts of everyone on site, including experienced veterinarians.

The challenges of rescue

Marine scientists note that pilot whales can only survive about 6 hours on land before they begin to deteriorate, prompting volunteers and officials who arrived on the scene to join forces, working tirelessly to keep the animals upright and ensure their blowholes remained clear.

After successfully returning the majority of the pilot whales to the sea, the work was not yet finished: reconnaissance planes constantly monitored the area, watching the behavior of the animals that had returned to the sea to prevent further strandings.

The concern stemmed from the fact that the survival rates for stranded pilot whales are low, as scientists have noted, emphasizing the urgency and necessity for rescue actions to be timely.

Social bonds and altruistic behavior

During the rescue operation, the social bonding and altruistic behavior of these marine animals clearly emerged. Like other cetacean species, pilot whales demonstrate a deep social bond and take care of each other, especially in emergency situations.

However, as Ian Wiese, president of the Geographe Marine Research group involved in the operation explained, if one pilot whale ends up stranded, the rest of the pod tends to follow, as was likely the case this time.

This time, the outcome was good, as the rescuers themselves declared. Unfortunately, other times things have gone differently.

Source: CNN