Stranding in Racha Yai
Photos: Racha Seamaster Divers
At around 18:40 on 26 June, more than 30 small cetaceans that appear to be false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) stranded themselves on the beach at the western side of Racha Yai in southern Thailand.
Khun Sing of Racha Seamaster Divers reports that local residents, tourists and staff of local hotels and businesses pitched in and managed to return at least 20 of the beached whales to the sea in relatively short order. The rescuers then successfully moved another 10 individuals (that were stranded higher up on the beach) to the opposite side of the bay, where the water was more calm.
After being returned safely to sea, the whales stayed in the bay, as if waiting for the other stranded whales to join them. Once the surviving whales were in the water, they moved off as a group, but as of now, are still in the general vicinity of the bay.
In total, volunteers on the scene were able to return all except one cetacean to the sea.
Local authorities sent the single dead whale to a marine research center in Phuket, where an autopsy is being conducted in hopes of learning more about why the whales may have stranded themselves.
See the video below for more:
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