The short-finned pilot whales began washing up on beaches Monday evening, said M. Ravi Kumar, the top government official in the southeastern port town of Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu state.
Rescuers took at least 36 of the mammals back to sea, but they appeared to be disoriented and some found their way back to the beach, Kumar said.
Short-finned pilot whales travel in groups or pods, and the absence of a leader confuses the group, he said.
Local officials have asked experts from a nearby marine park to help them assess why the whales are washing up ashore and to help return them to the ocean as quickly as possible.
Local records show that the last time whales washed up on the beaches of Tuticorin in large numbers was in 1973, Kumar said.
(AP)
Indian wildlife officials measure one among the dozens of whales that
have washed ashore on the Bay of Bengal coast's Manapad beach in
Tuticorin district, Tamil Nadu state, India,Tuesday, Jan.12, 2016. The
top government official in the southeastern port town of Tuticorin said
the short-finned pilot whales began washing up on beaches Monday
evening.
People look at one among the dozens of whales that have washed ashore on
the Bay of Bengal coast's Manapad beach in Tuticorin district, Tamil
Nadu state, India, Tuesday, Jan.12, 2016. More than 80 whales have
washed ashore on India's southern coast. The top government official in
the southeastern port town of Tuticorin said the short-finned pilot
whales began washing up on beaches Monday evening.
One among the dozens of whales that have washed ashore on the Bay of
Bengal coast at the Manapad beach in Tuticorin district, Tamil Nadu
state, India, Tuesday, Jan.12, 2016. The top government official in the
southeastern port town of Tuticorin said the short-finned pilot whales
began washing up on beaches Monday evening.
People look at one among the dozens of whales that have washed ashore on
the Bay of Bengal coast's Manapad beach in Tuticorin district, Tamil
Nadu state, India, Tuesday, Jan.12, 2016. The top government official in
the southeastern port town of Tuticorin said the short-finned pilot
whales began washing up on beaches Monday evening.
One among the dozens of whales that have washed ashore on the Bay of
Bengal coast at the Manapad beach in Tuticorin district, Tamil Nadu
state, India, Tuesday, Jan.12, 2016. The top government official in the
southeastern port town of Tuticorin said the short-finned pilot whales
began washing up on beaches Monday evening.
People stand near two among the dozens of whales that have washed ashore
on the Bay of Bengal coast's Manapad beach in Tuticorin district, Tamil
Nadu state, India, Tuesday, Jan.12, 2016. The top government official
in the southeastern port town of Tuticorin said the short-finned pilot
whales began washing up on beaches Monday evening.
One among the dozens of whales that have washed ashore on the Bay of
Bengal coast at the Manapad beach in Tuticorin district, Tamil Nadu
state, India, Tuesday, Jan.12, 2016. More than 80 whales have washed
ashore on India's southern coast. The top government official in the
southeastern port town of Tuticorin said the short-finned pilot whales
began washing up on beaches Monday evening.
People look at one among the dozens of whales that have washed ashore on
the Bay of Bengal coast's Manapad beach in Tuticorin district, Tamil
Nadu state, India, Tuesday, Jan.12, 2016. More than 80 whales have
washed ashore on India's southern coast. The top government official in
the southeastern port town of Tuticorin said the short-finned pilot
whales began washing up on beaches Monday evening.