More than 80 whales have washed ashore on India’s southern coast, officials said Tuesday.
The short-finned pilot whales began washing up on beaches Monday evening, said M. Ravi Kumar, the top government official in the southeastern port town of Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu state.
Rescuers took at least 36 of the mammals back to sea, but they appeared to be disoriented and some found their way back to the beach, Kumar said.
Short-finned pilot whales travel in groups or pods, and the absence of a leader confuses the group, he said.
Local officials have asked experts from a nearby marine park to help them assess why the whales are washing up ashore and to help return them to the ocean as quickly as possible.
Local records show that the last time whales washed up on the beaches of Tuticorin in large numbers was in 1973, Kumar said.
Latest Stories
-
China’s state secrets leak prompts rare death sentence for ex-employee
24 mins -
Trump wins North Carolina; Harris’ path to victory narrows
54 mins -
UN envoy urges opposition to openly engage with EC and Judiciary
1 hour -
‘Quality communication is key’ – UN official advises EC on building trust with voters
2 hours -
Judiciary needs clear communication to avoid misinterpretation, says UN Envoy
2 hours -
Asia stocks mixed as US election result in focus
2 hours -
Bawumia to construct tomato processing factory in Akumadan
3 hours -
Even if my wife cheats on me, I won’t divorce her – Peter Obi
3 hours -
Hoax bomb threats linked to Russia target polling places in battleground states, FBI says
3 hours -
Ghana detects 34,000 new HIV infections within nine months of 2024
3 hours -
Pope pays house visit to veteran Italian abortion rights advocate
3 hours -
Migrant caravan of 3,000 heads north in Mexico as US votes
4 hours -
Algeria silent after civil war book wins top French award
5 hours -
Nigeria’s power grid partially collapses again, causing blackouts
5 hours -
Elon Musk is sued over $1m election giveaway
6 hours