A very sad discovery was made yesterday morning in Ireland. Eight whales stranded on the Irish beach of Rossnowlagh (Co. Donegal). Seven of them died that evening, having been unable to be taken out to sea. A whale still survives on the beach, while the authorities do their utmost to save it.
The situation is dramatic and unprecedented: this is the first time that so many whales have stranded on the same beach in a single day. It’s an unexplained phenomenon, and one that raises many questions among specialists.
This is the largest mass stranding of this species ever recorded in Ireland. said Dr Simon Berrow of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG).
Dr. Berrow was rushed to the rescue of the mammals, but had to face the facts. The size and weight of these whales make any prospect of rescue almost impossible. With their respective 3-tonne weights and wingspans, launching them into the water is a real technical challenge for the rescuers.
To be honest, there’s not much we can do about it, as the average whale weighs around three tonnes. So it’s not really a good candidate for a return to the water.
However, the authorities did their utmost to provide the necessary care. Each whale was in respiratory distress, and medication was administered to make them as comfortable as possible.
The IWDG confirmed last night that seven of the whales had died. Only one is currently in the survival phase… But his prognosis seems uncertain.
Nevertheless, this sad incident drew crowds to the beach. Many local residents travelled to Rossnowlagh to witness the tragedy. Nevertheless, the IWDG has asked the public to stay away from the surviving whale, and to respect the work of the caretakers and rescue team. Indeed, some unscrupulous individuals were caught taking selfies with the surviving whale still stranded on the sand. This attitude was deemed unacceptable, and forced the authorities to set up a security perimeter around the animal.
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