Tasmanians have been urged to keep their distance from a group of pilot whales reportedly stuck on the state's west coast.
Environment minister Madeleine Ogilvie said on Sunday that four whales were stranded on a remote section of beach in Macquarie Harbour.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) was assessing the situation, the minister said.
"I want to thank the capable Tasmanians who are on the ground working hard to assist these beautiful creatures," Ms Ogilvie said.
"It is important for people in the area to please remain vigilant, keep their distance, and report sightings of free-swimming or stranded whales and dolphins to the whale hotline."
Wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta warned in October that, in some people's opinion, Tasmania had become a "stranding hotspot".
"One of the reasons is its geographical location. It is on the doorstep of the Southern Ocean," she said.
There has been a pattern of major whale strandings in Tasmania during early spring over recent years.
In September 2020, more than 400 pilot whales got into trouble at Macquarie Harbour on the state's west coast in the biggest recorded stranding in Australia.
Roughly 230 of the same species stranded at the same spot two years later.
In September 2022, 14 sperm whales also died on King Island, another remote Bass Strait outpost.
