Pilot whales stranded off Sunbury Cove (Canada)

DFO fisheries officers attempt to help pilot whales return to the ocean after they became stranded Tuesday at Sunbury Cove. © DFO photo

October 22^nd, 2014. SUNBURY COVE – Nine pilot whales area stranded at Sunbury Cove near Summerside. They were first spotted off Sunbury Cove Tuesday evening.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans fishery officers worked with representatives from the province and UPEI from early Wednesday morning to try to redirect the whales to open waters.

However, the weather, winds and tide conditions caused the rescue efforts have been suspended.

Rescuers are expected to start again Thursday morning.

The pilot whale, like the killer whale, is a member of the dolphin family, and is second only to the killer whale in size. Displaying intelligence equal to that of the bottlenose dolphin, the pilot whale is easily trained.

The pilot whale has a distinct rounded head with a very slight beak and an up-curved mouth line. In males the rounded head may protrude up to four inches over the lower jaw. Its body is long and stocky, narrowing along the caudal peduncle (tailstock).

Males are much larger than females. Adult males measure up to 20 feet (6.1 m) and weigh up to three tons. Adult females measure up to 16 feet (4.9 m) and weigh up to 1.5 tons.

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