Causes for mass whale stranding in Fife investigated
Veterinary pathologists are carrying out post-mortems to try and determine why a pod of 26 pilot whales were stranded on the coast of Fife in Scotland on Sunday morning.
Vets from the British Divers and Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) worked alongside the emergency services and the SSPCA to try and save the animals and ten of the mammals were successfully refloated, but 16 whales died.
It was hoped the rescued mammals would return to deeper water, but around 10 pilot whales were spotted close to the shore near Leith and yesterday a pilot whale was found dead just outside the Port of Leith, near Edinburgh.
But 16 whales, including four calves, died and a further whale was found dead on Monday 3rd September just outside the Port of Leith, near Edinburgh.
Stephen Marsh, BDMLR operations manager, commented: "It is likely that this is the pod of rescued whales from Sunday's mass stranding in Pitternweem. If this is the case then the animals headed south-west yesterday rather than moving out into the North Sea and heading north as hoped.
"One of these later stranded just outside the port and has died naturally. The rest of the pod has now turned away and is out of sight, so it is hoped again that they will head out to deep sea and bother.
"As part of the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, veterinary pathologists from the Scottish Agricultural College and Zoological Society of London and currently carrying out post-mortems on the animals that died."
The results may take several days, but it is hoped they will offer some clues as to why the animals were stranded.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is inviting applications from veterinary students to attend a one-week extramural studies (EMS) placement in July 2026.
