Fears growing for pod of whales ‘in distress’ off the coast of Fife

WILDLIFE: Team of 30 volunteers attempt to assist mammals near Culross, with one upside down in shallow water

“They were all in very, very shallow water, all stuck in the pier for quite some time

Fears were growing last night for at least one of five pilot whales which were “stranded” on the Fife coast.

Around 30 volunteers from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) group were involved in a rescue bid near Culross from 11am when the huge animals were spotted by a passer-by.

All five of the whales got into trouble at the village’s pier, with one stuck upside down and said to be in “distress” for half an hour.

Four of the whales disappeared from view as they made it into deeper water, but concerns were raised for one of the pod which moved position and was seen struggling further east near what was originally Preston Island.

Paul Smith, BDMLR coordinator for Fife and Stirling, said there was not much more that could be done last night as light faded, with volunteers expected to return at dawn.

“We first got the call to some whalelike objects in the water in the Culross area and we found five pilot whales up on the beach area, still in the water but very close in and clearly in distress,” he said.

“We did a quick assessment and mobilised resources, but the animals floated off before we could intervene.

“They are not showing normal behaviour, but because they are now in deep water there’s nothing we can really do.

“There’s obviously a reason they’ve come in so close to shore – they are very social animals so if one is injured or ill then they would stay together.”

Culross landscape photographer Graham Harris Graham, who runs a gallery from the village’s Town House, said the whales were practically “headbutting the pier” when he arrived at about 11am.

Graham added: “My colleague was down at the pier this morning and said, ‘you have got to come down, there is a pod of five whales there’.

“One of them was upside down and had been like that for half an hour and then, believe it or not, the wash off of a boat flipped it over and it managed to sail off.

“It was quite lucky really.

“They (the rescuers) suggested it was a female in distress and she was leader of the pod.

“The others will follow the leader even if it means putting itself in danger.

“They were all in very, very shallow water, all stuck in the pier for quite some time.”

Pictures: Kenny Smith. Left: Members of the public and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue watch one of the stricken whales. Right: One of the mammals in the Firth of Forth.