Mass stranding of whales found on North Andaman Island coast

Around 40 Short Finned Pilot Whales, which normally live in deep sea, were found lying near Elizabeth Bay in the West Coast of the island by some fishermen three days ago, they said.

According to them, this mass stranding is first of its kind reported from these islands.

Ajai Saxena, a top wildlife official of the Union Territory, said a team of forest officials went to the location immediately on receipt of the information and brought one carcass to Diglipur by Tuesday evening for further investigation including post mortem.

"At the time of initial finding in this remote location, few animal were found still alive, however, due to their large size (4 to 6 m length) and weight (1-3 ton) no rescue operation was practically possible," he said.

Experts said the live stranding may occur due to close social bonding where the group follows sick or injured individual to shallow waters.

The disorientation in course may also be caused by anomaly in earth electromagnetic field, earthquake or storm, which may also result in venturing of lead animal into shallow water area and subsequently stranding by the whole group, they said.

"Further investigation to find out the possible cause of mass stranding is going on," Saxena said.

Experts said that mass stranding of whales is a natural phenomenon and every year thousands of whales, dolphins and porpoises found stranded all over the world.

The stranding may occur in small or large groups, in which some animals may be aged or sick, however most of the individuals are often healthy ones, they said.

This natural phenomenon occurring for ages and still remains an unsolved mystery, they added.