Pilot whales die in Massachusetts

Twenty-four pilot whales have died in Massachusetts after becoming beached for a second time, frustrating the efforts of rescuers who had battled to return them to the ocean.

"It’s heartbreaking," said Christopher Bailey of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Several of the small black whales were put to sleep by vets after blood tests showed they were sick, or because they were in shock from the ordeal.

About 300 people had gone to the remote area near Lieutenant Island to try to help the whales.

Volunteers had put blankets and bed sheets on them to regulate their body temperature, and children filled buckets of water to pour on the animals to keep them comfortable.

"It is not a very good day, unfortunately," said Kristin Patchett, of the Cape Cod Stranding Network.

Pilot whales, which are common in New England waters, range from 12 to 16ft in length as adults and weigh about 1,800lb. They feed on squid, sand eels and small crustaceans.

Efforts to return them to the sea from Chapin Beach appeared to have been successful yesterday - until they beached themselves again about 25 miles further down the coast.

In July 2000, 10 pilot whales died after being stranding in shallow water off Nantucket Island,

Massachusetts, and on Christmas Eve 1991, 31 stranded pilot whales died off Cape Cod.