65 pilot whales stranded and died in the UK

At least 65 pilot whales have died after becoming stranded on an island in northern Scotland, in one of the largest whale strandings in Britain in recent years, a Marine life rescue group said.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue said Thursday it had been notified of the stranding earlier in the day and sent paramedics to a beach on Sanday Island in Scotland's Orkney archipelago.

"Paramedics found about 77 pilot whales on the beach that appeared to have been stranded for several hours... Only 12 heads are still alive."

There are many reasons why whales become stranded on shore, such as getting lost or being affected by the tides.

Pilot whales have tight social bonds, and when one whale in a pod gets into trouble, the others often follow it, leading to mass strandings.

A year ago, a similar pilot whale stranding occurred on the Scottish island of Lewis, when at least 55 whales died or were euthanized. There was also a mass stranding in Western Australia earlier this year.