55 Suicide Beached Pilot Whales die in Western Cape, South Africa
Pastor Dale Morgan
55 Suicide Beached Pilot Whales die in Western Cape, South Africa*
Cape Town, South Africa
55 Suicidal Pilot whales began beaching themselves since early this
morning and officials and volunteers have tried in vain to help them
back into the water.
Some of the whales were successfully returned to the water with
front-end loaders.
About 35 whales that had stranded themselves on Kommetjie beach have
been euthanized after efforts to rescue them failed.
Crowds of people had gathered on the beach to watch the rescuse efforts
and many became emotional when the decision to euthanize the animals was
made.
Nan Rice, head of the Dolphin Action and Protection group said "mass
strandings are extremely stressful for whales and to save stranding
whales is an extremely difficult task".
As we were walking away, we heard the shots - a sound that will stay
with me for a long time.