Scores of whales to be euthanised after mass stranding in australia
Australian authorities are set to euthanise approximately 90 false killer whales that survived a devastating mass stranding on a remote beach in Tasmania. The decision comes as experts conclude that the complex conditions at the site make any rescue attempt unfeasible.
The whales were part of a pod of 157 that became stranded near arthur river, on the island’s north-west coast. Sadly, the majority of the pod perished shortly after becoming beached. This event marks the first mass stranding of false killer whales in tasmania in over 50 years.
False killer whales, despite their name, are one of the world’s largest dolphin species, akin to their orca relatives. They can reach lengths of up to six metres (19 feet) and weigh approximately 1.5 tonnes. Their highly social nature makes mass strandings particularly devastating.
Extreme conditions hamper rescue efforts
Authorities confirmed on wednesday that the whales had been stranded for 24 to 48 hours before they were discovered. Experts determined that the surviving whales were already under severe stress, rendering rescue attempts increasingly challenging.
Local resident Jocelyn Flint described the heart-wrenching scene to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, saying she had travelled to the site after her son spotted the stranded pod while out shark fishing overnight.
“There are babies… There’s just families of them. Their eyes are open, they’re looking at me, like ‘help’,” she said. “It’s just absolutely horrific.”
Marine biologist Dr Kris Carlyon, who has been involved in whale rescue efforts for 16 years, described the site as one of the most difficult he had ever encountered. The remote location, roughly 300km (186 miles) from Launceston, is accessible only via a rough, steep, single-lane road. Due to the harsh terrain, only four-wheel-drive vehicles can reach the area, severely limiting the ability to transport rescue equipment.
The challenging conditions at the stranding site meant that returning the whales to the sea was not an option. Experts attempted to relocate two individuals and refloat them, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
“The animals just can’t get past the break to get out. They just keep turning around and coming back towards the beach,” explained Shelley Graham from Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service.
With weather conditions forecast to remain unchanged over the next two days, wildlife veterinarians were left with no alternative but to make the difficult decision to euthanise the remaining whales.
A grim decision
“The longer these animals are stranded, the more they suffer. All alternative options have been exhausted. Euthanasia is always a last resort,” Dr Carlyon stated. The process, which involves shooting the animals, was scheduled to begin on Wednesday and is expected to continue into Thursday.
Authorities are now considering how best to dispose of the carcasses. Given that the stranding site holds cultural significance for Aboriginal communities, a spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania suggested that “it may be a case of… letting nature run its course.”
Meanwhile, the public has been urged to avoid the area, as bushfires continue to burn nearby and road access remains limited.
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Tasmania: A hotspot for whale strandings
More than 80% of australia’s whale strandings occur in tasmania, particularly along its west coast.
The state has witnessed several large-scale strandings in recent years. In 2020, Australia’s worst-ever whale stranding took place in Macquarie Harbour, where around 470 pilot whales became beached. Despite extensive rescue efforts, only about 120 were successfully refloated, while approximately 350 perished. Two years later, another 200 whales stranded in the same harbour.
Marine scientists have long sought to understand the causes of such events. Some theories suggest that whales can become disoriented when following prey too close to shore. Others propose that a single misguided individual can inadvertently lead an entire pod to their deaths.
Regardless of the cause, the tragedy unfolding in Tasmania is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of these intelligent, social creatures to environmental hazards and human intervention alike.
