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Pilot whales ran into difficulties
A group of more than 200 pilot whales ran into difficulties in Southwest Iceland on Saturday. Many of the whales would have beached had it not been for divers and other volunteers who steered them towards the open sea.
“It is naturally a species which is common in Icelandic waters at this time of year but it usually stays at greater depths. It is a deep-sea whale and belongs out in the ocean,” biologist and whale specialist Gísli Víkingsson of the Icelandic Marine Research Institute told Morgunblaðið.
“It happens regularly that they run into such difficulties, although it isn’t common. Years or decades may pass between such incidents,” Gísli added.
According to visir.is, scientists disagree as to why whales swim so close to the shore. Some argue that they are chasing food, such as mackerel, others believe disturbances in the earth’s magnetic field lead
s them off track, or that a parasite infection in their inner ears disturbs their sense of direction.