21 pilot whales stranded, 10 dead so far in Skye, Scotland, UK |

Whales stranded on Staffin Island near Skye on June 2 2015. Uploaded June 2 2015. Free to use with credit.

Pilot whales: Mammals stranded on island near Skye – (Crown)

Nine whales have died and seven others are stuck on a beach after a mass stranding.

The pilot whales became trapped on the beach on the Isle of Skye at 4am on Tuesday.

Two of the 21 whales died before a British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) team were able to re-float them.

A pregnant female who was not expected to survive was euthanised after a local vet found her calf had died.

Shortly after their rescue, 16 whales re-stranded themselves on nearby Staffin Island. Four later died and two more were destroyed.

A BDMLR spokesman said: “Sixteen of the re-floated animals have re-stranded on Staffin Island itself and are being given first-aid by the BDMLR team. They are not in an easy position as have stranded awkwardly on rocks, meaning it is difficult to relieve the pressure on their bodies.

“Two more whales have been euthanised on the island.

“These two had been assessed by a vet and due to a poor prognosis from the effects of the initial stranding combined with those of the second stranding, was decided that the most humane outcome for the animals would be for their suffering to be ended.

“The vet was in no doubt that had they been refloated they would not have survived long.

“Each of the remaining seven animals are being assessed in the hope that some may be fit enough to be refloated to join the whales that are currently free swimming and the team continues to give them first aid.”

The pod was first spotted off Staffin at 4.30pm on Monday.