Investigation into the long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) mass stranding event, Tolsta, na h-Eileanan Siar, July 2023

Acknowledgements

This investigation, supported by Marine Directorate, Scottish Government, Defra through the Healthy and Biologically Diverse Seas Evidence group and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, involved collaborative networks spanning the Universities of Aberdeen, St Andrews, Heriot-Watt, and the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre.

Undertaking necropsies on this number of animals was logistically challenging, time critical and was only made possible due to the significant help and support provided by a large number of people from the Western Isles community, SMASS volunteers and collaborators and colleagues from the UK and the international marine science community. Expert pathology and necropsy input was provided by teams from the Dutch (University of Utrecht) and England and Wales (CSIP) stranding networks and the depth and breadth of necropsy examinations undertaken were only possible due to Lonneke IJsseldijk, Rob Deaville and Simon Spiro offering essential assistance to this phase of the investigation. Manuel Fuentes Veterinary Diagnostic Services Unit at the University of Glasgow for undertaking the bacteriological investigation. Mara Rocchi, Moredun Research Institute for undertaking morbillivirus investigations.