Whale stranding Scotland: Island residents free up freezer space for samples after experts call for assistance

The mass stranding is said to be the biggest one ever in Scotland.

Islanders have freed up their home freezer space to hold samples taken by experts investigating the mass stranding of whales on the isle of Lewis.

Some 55 pilot whales, including both adults and calves, were found washed ashore at Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta on Sunday about 7am.

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Only 15 were alive when the pod was discovered. Attempts were made to re-float two of the most active whales, but by 3.30pm, it was decided the remaining whales should be euthanised on welfare grounds, despite a multi-agency rescue attempt.

On Tuesday, the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), the team of experts investigating the incident, put a call out to residents asking for any free freezer space to store samples taken during the ongoing research into how and why the mammals ended up stranded.

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Following “an enormous response” from the community, SMASS said all its samples have been stored successfully for now.

Pilot whales from a pod of more than 50 which died following a mass stranding on Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis. Picture: Mairi Robertson-Carrey/Cristina McAvoy/BDMLR

So far the research has found a large adult female had what was first thought to be a prolapse. But further investigation showed it to be the placenta, highlighting issues with birthing, which would have caused obvious distress to the mammal.

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Pilot whales are notorious for their strong social bonds, so often when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow – a theory being investigated for why the pod washed ashore.

SMASS said further analysis was needed to understand what happened.

On Wednesday, the team of experts will be joined by pathologists from the English Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme (CSIP) team and Dutch colleagues from the University of Utrecht to help with the autopsies.

Andrew Brownlow, director at SMASS who is leading the investigation, said the incident was one of the biggest mass strandings the organisation had ever dealt with.

The distressing find prompted a multi-agency response, including support from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), local Marine Mammal Medics, HM Coastguard, Fire and Rescue, Civil Air Support, as well as SMASS staff.

BDMLR posted on its website shortly after the discovery that it wished to thank Lewis community, Stornoway Coastguard, Police, Stornoway and Shawbost Fire and Rescue, SMASS, SSPCA, Civil Air Support, CalMac and its team of medics who came together to rescue the whales.