Only three of the 45 short-finned pilot whales survived the massive beaching in shallow waters on the Indonesian island of Madura off the northeast coast of Java.
BANGKALAN, Indonesia – Only three of the 45 pilot whales survived Friday’s mass stranding in shallow waters on the Indonesian island of Madura off the northeast coast of Java, officials said.
The three whales were pushed back to sea by volunteers and local authorities along Modung beach in East Java province.
East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa said authorities are investigating the cause of death while the carcasses will be buried along the coast.
“The volunteers who helped them return to the ocean said some of the whales have returned to shore because their mothers are still stranded on the beach,” Parawansa said.
According to data from Whale Stranding Indonesia, there were 59 beach incidents in the country last year, most of them dugongs and spinner dolphins.