Whales beach themselves in UK, US

Scientists and conservationists are once again puzzled over the behaviour of whales - with two different pods of pilot whales beaching themselves this weekend on either side of the Atlantic.

A pod of 26 pilot whales stranded themselves off the coast of Fife in Scotland.

Crowds of on-lookers gathered to watch the massive rescue and relief operation.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ST ANDREWS COASTGUARD RESCUE TEAM SPOKESMAN, CAMERON RAE, SAYING:

"This is very unusual. We have members of our rescue team who have been around these coasts all their lives and haven't known this type of thing to happen before. We've had occasional single animals beaching, but not a whole pod like this."

13 of the 26 whales did not make it.

And in a strange coincidence... another pod of whales beached themselves along the coast of south-central Florida in the U.S.

This time, 22 pilot whales stranded themselves near Fort Pierce.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRETT TOUGAS, VOLUNTEER, SAYING:

"They're being crushed by the waves and they kept being turned sideways . Their blowholes keep getting covered with water. They were literally drowning because whales are mammals and need oxygen to survive."

Authorities say this particular specie of whale-- although highly intelligent-- often beach themselves due to a parasite that affects the mammals' brains.

Only five whales survived.