There are numerous proposed theories regarding why whales strand. A single whale may strand due to illness, navigational error, or simply foraging close to shore, and caught by the tide. Mass strandings occur in highly social off-shore species, where a group of animals may strand together.
Common causes of single strandings include illness, injury, old age, or perhaps they simply forage too close to shore then are caught by the falling tide.
Mass strandings probably also occur due to similar reasons as single strandings, and due to strong social bonds within the group, it appears that the pod stays together, and also get caught by the tide, rather than leaving an afflicted group member.
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