JUDIQUE, N.S. – A resident of a small community on Cape Breton’s west coast says about 25 people rallied to try and save 16 beached pilot whales today after they became stuck on the rocky shores of St. George’s Bay.
Linden MacIntyre, a former journalist who lives about a kilometre from the bay in Judique, N.S., says he believes the whales were beached early Tuesday morning as the tide went out.
MacIntyre says a resident noticed the whales later Tuesday morning and began calling other people in the area to help keep the mammals alive until the tide came back in.
He says the rough surf kept the whales wet, so their main concern was keeping the whale’s blowholes uncovered so they did not drown.
MacIntyre says as the tide came in, residents worked together to move the whales to safety, with some wading in neck-deep water.
He says 11 whales survived, but five died, including a small whale and a larger whale that was about three metres long.
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