“Sentinels of ocean health” in Florida’s waters seem to be delivering a warning.
The NOAA Fisheries reports that 25 deceased pilot whales were discovered Thursday near Kice Island off southwestern Florida.
Eight other pilot whales died or were humanely euthanized earlier in the week when they were stranded further north near Lover’s Key State Park.
Contributing to the stranding situation, the NOAA says, are the close bonds the whales have. If one is sick, others may stay close by it even at the risk of getting stranded.
The NOAA says that the these events coupled with a mass stranding in December have sparked scientists to closely investigate the situation.
“This is unusual and something we’re looking into and monitoring,” Blair Mase, a marine mammal specialist with NOAA, told reporters.
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