In a remarkable story, the residents of a small town in Northern Iceland have banded together to rescue more than 60 whales who were stranded on the beach, with time running out as it was about to be low tide.
These whales would not have survived for very long if they were stuck on that beach when the tide reached its lowest point; it just goes to show the difference the community can make, and it is wonderful seeing a group of humans come together to help these beautiful animals in need.
As this incredible video shows, many locals stepped up and jumped into the water to help each and every whale get back out into the ocean before the dwindling tide left them stranded in the shallows.
If you look at the background of each shot in this video, you will notice that there are only a handful of houses and buildings on the land along the shore.
We’re going to guess that this town is not highly populated, which means that this is probably an all-hands-on-deck effort.
Related: Whale Family Cuddling Together To Have a Conversation Is Awe-Inspiring
There appear to be around half a dozen people surrounding each whale with ropes and harnesses, working together to pull these mighty creatures out of the shallows and into the safety of deeper water.
Thanks to this community’s effort, every single whale was able to be saved! As one of this video’s captions and notes, “What a beautiful, happy ending that no one expected at the beginning!” Indeed, this started out like a tragedy, but truly ended in triumph.
Helping a Beached Whale
It is important to note that whales and dolphins do not usually beach themselves. So, if one of them winds up on a beach, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
As such, it is a good idea to call wildlife or aquatic rescue services because they will likely be best equipped to help any injured animals in need.
A potential issue with trying to return an injured whale or dolphin to the ocean is that they may not be strong enough to swim, which is how they ended up on the beach in the first place.
They might have to go to a rehabilitation facility and receive treatment before they are ready to be released back into the ocean.
It is important to remain calm around these animals and not stress them out any more than they may already be under these circumstances.
Hopefully, each and every one of the whales in the video was unharmed, and they are now living their best lives, free as can be, out in the sea.
Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.