The Whales at the Heart of the Story
Photo credit: Ralph Tonge
In Memory of the Long-finned pilot whales
This artwork and memorial is dedicated to the pod of long-finned pilot whales who lost their lives on Traigh Mhòr beach. They were more than a group, they were mothers and daughters, sons and fathers, bound together by deep and enduring bonds of family.
It is also dedicated to all those who came together in compassion to try to save them, a community united in care, standing side by side in the face of loss.
May we remember their strength, their devotion to one another, and the love that kept them side by side until the very end.
And for the one who returned to the sea, may he find safety, solace, and a new family to swim beside
On 16 July 2023, a tragic mass stranding occurred on Traigh Mhòr beach on the Isle of Lewis, involving around 55 long-finned pilot whales, including both adults and calves. When rescuers arrived, only 15 whales were still alive; despite their efforts, just one could be successfully refloated, while 12 had to be euthanised on welfare grounds. It is suspected that the stranding was triggered by a female experiencing complications during birth, with the rest of the tightly bonded pod following her ashore. A large, coordinated response was mounted by organisations including British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS), Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), the Coastguard, Fire and Rescue services, local veterinarians, and volunteers. Post-mortem examinations were carried out on 23 of the whales, with samples collected for further study. This event stands as one of the largest mass strandings in Scotland in recent decades, highlighting the deep social bonds within pilot whale pods and the challenges they face.
You can find the full SMASS report on the 2023 mass stranding and other strandings here
