Cape Breton community attempts to rescue beached whales

Community members and an animal rescue group in Cape Breton spent Sunday trying to save nearly a dozen beached pilot whales that washed up in Port Hood, N.S.

Hunter MacDonald, a 14-year-old from Cape Breton, said he was biking by the beach near Little River Bridge with some friends when they noticed the whales extremely close to shore.

MacDonald said that with the help of fellow community-members and beachgoers, about three whales were saved and swam away. Several of the pilot whales have died.

Resident Donna MacInnis was driving in the area, when she noticed the commotion. She said the whales were scattered a few hundred feet along the coast.

“I would say in a very short period of time some of the whales did die right in front of us. It was very traumatic. It was heartbreaking to see and these large whales being pulled away not wanting to leave,” said MacInnis. 

A total of eleven whales were found beached; residents were able to rescue three and the eight others died.

Elizabeth Zwamborn of the Cape Breton Pilot Whale Project said if a necropsy is performed it will help explain the cause of the deaths.

“That will at least tell us what it’s not for the dead individuals, whether there’s any sign of disease, or sickness, or complications,” said Zwamborn.

The Marine Animal Response Society was also on scene to direct rescue efforts.

The Cape Breton Pilot Whale Project said in a social media post Monday that 26 pilot whales that had been spotted swimming along the shore and appeared at risk of stranding were “successfully shepherded” into deeper waters.

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