The 55 pilot whales, which had to be euthanised, had been following a female having a difficult birth, scientists believe The 55 pilot whales, which had to be euthanised, had been following a female having a difficult birth, scientists believe The mass stranding and death of 55 whales on the Isle of Lewis in 2023 was caused by the mammals’ loyalty to their pod, a report has concluded. It had been thought that the unusually large incident on Tràigh Mhòr beach, Tolsta, could have been caused by