Essex Wildlife Hospital says the two pilot whales were part of a pod who had died at a previous stranding.

Two whales that became stranded off an island in Essex have died.

A female pilot whale and her calf were spotted in trouble in Canvey Island on Friday.

Essex Police said it was called at 20:45 BST and a decision was made to “safely and humanely euthanise” the youngster, after the mother had died.

South Essex Wildlife Hospital, which attended the incident, said the pair were part of a pod of between seven and nine whales which had died in another recent stranding.

  • DeebsterEnglish
    2·
    30 days ago

    For anyone else wondering, they’re not endangered, at least:

    Figures for both species of pilot whales are unknown, and even though they are depleted in some areas, pilot whales are not considered to be endangered. There are likely to be almost a million long-finned pilot whales and at least 200,000 short-finned pilot whales worldwide.

    — American Cetacean Society