Twenty-four beached pilot whales die in Baja California, Mexico

Twenty-four pilot whales died after becoming beached on the Baja California Peninsula despite efforts to move them into deeper waters, Mexican authorities said on Sunday.

They were among 27 protected whales that had swum aground late Saturday in a beach near San Felipe, in Mexico's Baja California region.

Three whales, two adults and a calf, survived, according to Mexico's federal environmental protection agency, PROFEPA.

The rescue operation involved fishermen, residents as well as personnel from PROFEPA and members of the Mexican army and navy.

A PROFEPA statement speculated that the mammals were disoriented, saying the whales showed no visible injuries, nor signs that they had been entangled in fishing nets. Endi