David Schwarzhans, pilot for Reykjavik Helicopters reported more than 50 long-finned pilot whales stranded on Gamlaeyri island, Iceland. This is the second largest stranding event to occur over the past 40 years in Iceland, after the first that found 148 pilot whales in 1986.
The causal explanation has yet to be determined. However, Edda Elisabet Magnusdottir, a marine biologist at the University of Iceland stated “Pilot whales easily become disoriented in these environmental situations—strong currents, gradual bank, sandy bottoms. This is the worst scenario for this species and other deep-diving whales, since they use echolocation to navigate and locate prey. In Löngufjörur where you have gradual sand bottoms becoming shallower and softer, there is less reflection by echolocation. The whales can’t navigate as they would in deeper water.” Whilst Róbert Arnar Stefánsson, director of West Iceland Nature Research Centre added"It may have had to do with sickness in their leader, or that they were following prey. They’re used to catching prey in much deeper waters so they’re not as efficient in shallow waters". Read more at: https://grapevine.is/news/2019/07/22/mass-whale-death-snaefellsnes-iceland/
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