Marine experts have sadly given up hope of rescuing more than 150 false killer whales that stranded on a remote beach on Tasmania's northwestern coast. The whales were discovered on an exposed surf beach near the Arthur River on Tuesday afternoon. Despite efforts by experts, including veterinarians, unfavorable ocean and weather conditions have hindered rescue attempts.
Incident controller Shelley Graham stated that the challenging ocean conditions prevented the successful refloating of the stranded whales. Marine biologist Kris Carlyon confirmed that the survivors would be euthanized due to prolonged suffering. The inaccessibility of the beach, adverse ocean conditions, and the weight of the whales have complicated rescue efforts.
The stranded whales, weighing as much as 3 metric tons, belong to the false killer whale species, which are among the largest members of the dolphin family. This stranding marks the first incident involving false killer whales in Tasmania since 1974.
Authorities are uncertain about the cause of the stranding and plan to examine the carcasses of the deceased whales for clues. A helicopter reconnaissance confirmed that there were no other whales within a 10-kilometer radius of the stranded pod.
Local residents, including Arthur River resident Jocelyn Flint, have witnessed the distressing scene. Flint described the heartbreaking sight of the stranded whales, including young calves and adults, unable to be refloated due to their size and the surging water.
This stranding is reminiscent of previous incidents in Tasmania, such as the 2022 stranding of 230 pilot whales and the 2020 mass stranding of 470 long-finned pilot whales in Macquarie Harbor. The reasons behind these beachings remain unclear and could be attributed to various factors like disorientation, illness, injury, or severe weather.
