The bodies of more than thirty sea mammals, which some claim to be pilot whales and others believe to be dolphins, are lying on Coqueiro beach in the municipality of Santa Cruz on the island of Santiago. The animals, which measure between two and three meters in length, beached themselves yesterday for unknown reasons.

According to local sources, there were initially more than 50 cetaceans on the beach, but at the moment police have counted a total of 37 animals on Coqueiro beach near the village of Cancelo. Some of the bodies were carried away by the sea.

As soon as the animals began beaching themselves, some local residents immediately made their way to the spot to try to butcher them for meat, but local authorities tried to discourage the action. Some local youths also sought to help the desperate whales back into the sea.

Currently, according to Santa Cruz National Police squadron commander Policarpo Fonseca, information is being gathered to try to determine what could be behind the mass beaching of the mammals.