Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 02:52 pm
On Sunday morning, Civil Air Support were alerted to the mass stranding of a pod of 55 pilot whales near Stornoway. In response, British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) mobilised specialist Marine Mammal Medics to the scene. To help with the logistics of getting them from their mainland bases, a twin-engine Cessna 414 of the Civil Air Support fleet departed Turweston at 10:45.
Sadly, the rescue party realised the race against time was lost when news reached the aircraft that almost all the pilot whales had died as it approached Loch Ness, just 90 miles short of Stornoway. Civil Air Support pilot Graham Mountford had kindly donated his time and aircraft for this mission.
Long-finned pilot whales can grow up to 2,300 Kg and reach a body length of up to 6.5 metres which makes them difficult to rescue once they become stranded. Ultimately, the BDMLR could only refloat one of the pilot whales.
Whilst tragic, the stranding of whole pods of pilot whales is not an uncommon phenomenon. They are a particularly social species and stay together as a group with offspring remaining in their mother’s pod for a lifetime. It is thought that this stranding occurred when one whale was injured and became beached, and the remainder of the pod stayed close to provide protection and support.
Civil Air Support would like to extend their thanks to all those who participated in supporting the mission including ground staff and handling agents at Turweston Aerodrome, Newcastle Airport and Dundee Airport.
Will Ingleby, Media Officer at Civil Air Support, said: “The charity is only able to function because its crews donate their time and aircraft free of charge, and with the support of those airports and associated providers who waive fees and charges for our humanitarian flights.”
On Sunday morning, Civil Air Support were alerted to the mass stranding of a pod of 55 pilot whales near Stornoway, Scotland. In response, British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) mobilised specialist Marine Mammal Medics to the scene. To aid with the logistics, a twin-engine Cessna 414 of the Civil Air Support fleet departed Turweston at 10:45.
Unfortunately, the rescue mission proved unsuccessful as the aircraft approached Loch Ness, just 90 miles short of Stornoway. News had reached that almost all the pilot whales had died.
Long-finned pilot whales can grow up to 2,300 Kg and reach a body length of up to 6.5 metres, making them difficult to rescue once they become stranded. Ultimately, BDMLR could only refloat one of the pilot whales.
Strandings of whole pods of pilot whales are not uncommon, as they are a social species and stay together as a group with offspring remaining in their mother’s pod for a lifetime. It is thought that this stranding occurred when one whale was injured and became beached, and the rest of the pod stayed close to provide protection and support.
Civil Air Support expressed their gratitude to all those who participated in supporting the mission, including ground staff and handling agents at Turweston Aerodrome, Newcastle Airport and Dundee Airport. Will Ingleby, Media Officer at Civil Air Support, said: “The charity is only able to function because its crews donate their time and aircraft free of charge, and with the support of those airports and associated providers who waive fees and charges for our humanitarian flights.”
