What drove almost a HUNDRED dolphins to their death off Florida? Ninety-five mammals wash up dead in mystery mass stranding in the Everglades

  • Officials say dozens of false killer whales have died after stranding themselves in the Gulf of Mexico west of the Florida Everglades
  • Efforts to herd the marine mammals into deeper waters failed 
  • Of the 95 dolphins, 72 of them died, nine were humanely euthanized, and about 13 or 14 are unaccounted for
  • The false killer whale is not a whale or directly related to killer whale, rather it's a large member of the dolphin family

Almost a hundred dolphins have died after becoming stranded in Everglades National Park in South Florida.

In total, 95 of the false killer whales - a type of dolphin - became stranded off Hog Key, deep inside mangroves.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries say that 72 of the mammals were discovered stranded with another nine having to be humanely euthanized. About 13 or 14 are unaccounted for.

Nearly 100 false killer whales that were stranded off of Everglades National Park have either died or have been euthanized over the weekend

Nearly 100 false killer whales that were stranded off of Everglades National Park have either died or have been euthanized over the weekend

Nearly 100 false killer whales were spotted on the western side of Everglades National Park, north of the Highland Beach area

Nearly 100 false killer whales were spotted on the western side of Everglades National Park, north of the Highland Beach area

The US Coast Guard flew over the area and spotted the animals late Saturday continuing efforts into Sunday. The team tried to herd the dolphins that were alive out further into the water but were not successful.

They dolphins were scattered and spread out, not swimming together. 

The area, about 54 miles north of the Florida Keys city of Marathon by boat, created major problems for responders. 

Rescue teams faced many challenges in the remote site including sharks in the water and thick mangroves that ensnared the dying animals. 

Several agencies attempted to heard the whales, but were unsuccessful at doing so. The whales then scattered and spread out, many getting deeply tangled in the mangroves

Several agencies attempted to heard the whales, but were unsuccessful at doing so. The whales then scattered and spread out, many getting deeply tangled in the mangroves

Veterinarians on the scene analyzed their poor condition. Unfortunately, nine had to be humanely euthanized

Veterinarians on the scene analyzed their poor condition. Unfortunately, nine had to be humanely euthanized

There are no roads to the area and it took officials about an hour by boat to reach the scene. 

Wildlife officials are baffled as to what caused the dolphins to become stranded so far from their usual habitat in the open ocean.

Necropsies are being performed in the hope that it may explain what causes the pod to veer off course. 

NOAA Fisheries says the false killer whales can grow up to 20-foot long and weigh about 1,500 pounds.

Strandings of false killer whales at particularly rare and are only known to have happened twice before.

One occurred in 1986 in Key West where 28 animals were involved and another in 1989 at Cedar Key, near Tampa, that involved 40 dolphins, although on that occasion, many were able to swim back out to sea.