Photo: Courtesy of the IFAW.
EASTHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — (UPDATED 11/29, 5:30 P.M.) Rescue officials at the International Fund for Animal Welfare rushed to the shores of Eastham on Tuesday to come to the aid of pilot whales that had beached north of Sunken Meadow the night before. Crews have since put their rescue efforts on hold, as four of the marine mammals returned to sea turned back around into shallow waters. One of the whales that had beached Monday night was able to reach and stay offshore.
“The five pilot whales swam off well in one direction together, but the reality is that we cannot celebrate a success yet this evening. One animal is now offshore, but the others did not follow. We will keep an eye on them tomorrow and evaluate next steps," Misty Niemeyer of the IFAW said in a statement.
According to experts, pilot whale stranding's on Cape Cod are uncommon, but still tend to happen from time to time. Crews estimated the largest of the whales weighs nearly 4,000 pounds, equivalent to almost two tons.
Officials at the IFAW told WBZ NewsRadio that a small team satellite tagged two of the six whales spotted swimming close to the shore Monday night. By the morning, scouts for the IFAW found one of the whales, a calf, had died overnight with the remaining five beached in proximity.
The team working to help free the surviving sea mammals said they would have to make a supportive effort when the tides were more favorable in the afternoon.
Photo: Courtesy of the IFAW.
The IFAW has a stranding hotline for instances like this, where witnesses can report incidents of wild marine mammals in distress for trained experts to step in. To help any beached whales, dolphin, porpoise, or seal, officials say bystanders should stay at least 150 feet away, keep dogs on leashes, and refrain from pouring water on the wild animals.
WBZ-TV's Mike Sullivan shared video of officials pulling the pilot whales back out to sea at sunset.
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