Only three of the 45 shortfish whales survived the mass stranded in shallow water on the Madura Island in Indonesia off the northeast coast of Java.
BANGKALAN, Indonesia – Only three of the 45 flying whales survived the mass that survived Friday in shallow waters on Indonesia’s Madura Island off the northeast coast of Java, officials said.
The three whales were pushed into the sea by volunteers and local authorities along Modung Beach in the eastern Java province.
East Java government Khofifah Indar Parawansa said authorities were investigating the cause of death while the carcasses would be buried along the coast.
“The volunteers helping them return to the ocean said some of the whales had returned to shore as their mothers were still stranded on the beach,” Parawansa said.
According to data from Whale Stranding Indonesia, there were 59 incidents in the country last year, most of which were dugongs and spider dolphins.