Short-finned Pilot Whale

Most of what is documented about pilot whales in Sri Lanka comes from strandings. On 2 November 2020 more than 100 short-finned pilot whales came ashore at Panadura, about 30 km south-west of Colombo. Rescuers spent around 16 hours returning at least 100 to the sea, and at least five whales died (The Wire Science, citing Asha de Vos of Oceanswell, who identified them).

On 11 February 2023, 14 came ashore at Kudawa beach in Kalpitiya. Eleven were returned to the sea over 15.5 hours and three died. Marine biologist Ranil Nanayakkara suggested either a sick pod leader had beached, with the others following, or that seismic activity in the Indian Ocean had disoriented them (Mongabay, February 2023). Beachings have been documented in Sri Lanka since at least 1889.