157 cetaceans, thought to be false killer whales, wound up on the sand in Tasmania. None are expected to survive. Photo: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
Over 150 animals, thought to be false killer whales, have stranded themselves in Tasmania. According to the Marine Conservation Program, it is unlikely that any will survive the ordeal.
The stranding, which occurred near the tiny village of Arthur River (population 32), was made worse for the cetaceans due to the lack of nearby equipment necessary to help them back to sea. Although a few residents did attempt to rescue some of them, authorities from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service have closed the beach and nearby areas because some of the attempts are hindering potential rescue efforts. A bushfire in the area is making things more difficult, as well.
“We are working with Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service responding to a mass whale stranding on the state’s West Coast near Arthur River,” wrote the Marine Conservation Program in statement. “A group of 157 whales have stranded, initial observations show 90 animals are still alive. We are currently assessing the situation to plan an appropriate response. Stranding response in this remote area is complex. If it is determined there is a need for help from the general public, a request will be made through various avenues.”
As of this writing, 90 of the 157 whales are still alive, but the outlook is grim. “The moment a whale or dolphin strands, the clock of survival starts ticking,” Dr Vanessa Pirotta of Macquarie University said in a statement to Scimex. “The longer they remain on land, the less of a chance they may have to be successfully returned.”
Although the exact species hasn’t yet been confirmed, it seems fairly clear that they are false killer whales, a kind of dolphin with a head shape similar to an orca. Although they are known to travel in big pods, 157 is considered abnormally large.
Because of the remoteness of the area, it isn’t known for certain how long the group was stranded before they were discovered. It is suspected that it was at least 48 hours, leading the Marine Conversation to predict a sad outcome. “It’s currently expected all remaining alive whales will be euthanised,” they wrote.
In 2020, 380 pilot whales died after stranding themselves in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbor.
