Pilot whales leave Loch Carnan following death

[The Dragon Master]

A pod of more than 60 pilot whales, at risk of beaching, has again left a Hebridean loch after one of them died.



The animals had left the shallow waters of Loch Carnan in South Uist on Saturday, however returned during the night when the beaching took place.



A post-mortem examination suggested the young female died from a disease, not because it was stranded on rocks.



Marine experts said the rest of the pod had now left the loch and appeared to be heading south.



Dr Andrew Brownlow, who carried out the autopsy, said the whale showed signs of having suffered a serious disease and its injuries were not bad enough to have killed it.



That could indicate that head injuries suffered by a number of other members of the group are not life-threatening.



Rescue teams have been searching the islands and inlets of the loch but have not found any other whale carcasses.



The British Divers Marine Life Rescue team has now been forced to withdraw due to worsening weather conditions.



The team is planning to leave South Uist on Monday but will leave behind essential kit, in case the whales are seen close to the shores of the island over the next few days.

Rest of article and link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-13488302