Over 150 false killer whales stranded on remote Australian beach

More than 150 false killer whales have become stranded on a remote beach in Tasmania, Australia, with at least 60 confirmed dead as authorities race against time to rescue the remaining survivors, reports BBC.   

According to Tasmania's Department of Natural Resources and Environment, a pod of 157 whales washed ashore near Arthur River in the island's northwest. 

Conservation experts and veterinarians are assessing the condition of around 90 whales that are still alive to determine if they can be refloated back into the ocean.  

"Initial assessments indicate that refloating the whales will be difficult due to the inaccessibility of the site, ocean conditions and the challenges of getting specialised equipment to the remote area," Brendon Clarke, a spokesman for the department, told the media.  

False killer whales, despite their name, belong to the dolphin family and can grow up to six metres in length and weigh up to 1.5 tonnes. Mass strandings of this species have not been recorded in Tasmania for over 50 years.  

The stranded whales have reportedly been on the beach for up to two days, raising concerns about their survival. 

"We have... surging tidal waters and breaking surf, and so to try and refloat the animals directly back into that surf would be challenging, and then, of course, that would also present some enormous safety risk for our staff and personnel," Clarke said.  

"Because the fact that these are large animals, potentially in their death throes, and they could be writhing and moving around on beaches, [there's a] likelihood of somebody being injured."  

Sharks in the area have also raised concerns for both the rescue teams and the stranded whales. Authorities have urged the public to stay away from the location, citing not only the difficult terrain but also bushfires burning nearby, which have restricted road access.  

Local resident Jocelyn Flint described the distressing scene after visiting the site.  

"There are babies... There's just families of them. Their eyes are open, they're looking at me, like 'help'," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.  

"It's just absolutely horrific. They're all struggling."  

Tasmania is known as a hotspot for whale strandings, with over 80% of Australia's incidents occurring on the island. 

In 2020, the country saw its worst mass stranding when around 470 pilot whales became beached at Macquarie Harbour, resulting in the deaths of about 350 despite extensive rescue efforts. Another 200 whales were stranded in the same area in 2022.  

Experts suggest various reasons for such incidents, including disorientation while hunting fish near the shore or one whale mistakenly leading the entire pod into shallow waters. 

Whales are highly social mammals that depend on strong group communication, making them prone to mass strandings when one individual goes off course.