BBC News, Africa reported that 55 pilot whales with calves were beached at Kommetjie, near Cape Town on May 30. South African rescue teams attempted to send back 20 pilot whales and the remaining had to be put down.
Later, Reuters India reported that all the whales have died as rescue attempts failed.Though the whales were initially reported as pilot whales, later they were identified as false killer whales by National Sea Rescue Institute.
It is also reported that mass beaching of whales has taken place for the first time at Kommetjie Beach and the reasons for beaching is not known.
Read more from BBC News and Reuters.
Read from Wikipedia about Pilot Whale and False Killer Whale.
View some video clips:
Post in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:
Weekend Shopping: Online Sale of Private Islands
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I live in this region of Cape Town and remember how sad everyone was when going down to the beach and seeing so many whales suffering, it was really sad and hopefull next time an incident like this occurs the authoroties will be able to rescue the whales…
Cape Town is the best place in the world to do whale-watching, it is awesome and so relaxing and I recommend it to anyone visiting this area.