Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – At least 52 of dozens of short-finned pilot whales that were stranded on a beach in Indonesia’s district of Bangkalan, East Java province, found dead on Friday morning.

Those whales were suspected to be washed ashore before lying on the beach in Modung sub district, the authorities stated.

“We are suspecting that a whale in the pod was injured or sick, so the rest were following and guarding it. They ended up stranded until 52 were found dead this morning,” the Maritime and Fishery Affairs Ministry’s spokesman, Wahyu Muryadi, said on Friday.

According to him, as many as three whales of the pod are expected to be alive.

“We are trying to save them when the high tide comes,” Muryadi said.

Authorities and veterinarians as well as volunteers have been in the location for inspections of the aquatic mammals since Friday morning, he added.

Reporting by Indonesia Window