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Pilot whales found washed up on beach in northern France

Only four of ten pilot whales discovered stranded for unknown reasons on sands near Calais survived operations to return them to the sea.

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A woman walking along a beach near Calais in northern France on Monday morning was shocked to find ten long-finned pilot whales stranded on the sand, reports Metro News.

By the time firefighters and members of the local Animal Protection League (LPA) reached the scene, six of the 10 whales had already died.

The rescuers used a bulldozer to pick up the remaining four whales, including two calves, carrying them into the safety of the sea.

By 9.30am, two of  the four-metre-long mammals had been safely returned to the water – followed by the other pair in the following hour.

Read more of this article from Metro News.