At least 50 whales stranded on Scottish island beach

Around 55 pilot whales have died in a mass pilot whale stranding on a beach off the west coast of Scotland. Eight adults and four calves who were still alive had to be euthanized.

The cause of the stranding is unknown but it is thought the pod may have followed one of the females. Pilot whales are part of the dolphin family and are the cetacean species most susceptible to mass stranding.