Australian wildlife officials have announced the difficult decision to euthanise approximately 90 false killer whales that survived a distressing mass stranding on a remote beach in Tasmania. This heart-wrenching situation arose when a pod of 157 whales beached themselves near Arthur River in the island’s northwest, with most succumbing shortly after the event.
Experts on-site reported that the complex conditions surrounding the stranding made it virtually impossible to rescue the surviving whales. The area, located around 300 kilometers from Launceston, presents significant accessibility challenges. Marine biologist Kris Carlyon described it as possibly the most challenging site he has encountered in his 16 years of work in Tasmania, stating, “We’re talking a very rough, steep, single lane road into the site. We can get four-wheel drives in there, but not a lot else.”
Desperate efforts to save the stranded whales
Authorities informed the public that the pod had been stranded for 24 to 48 hours, during which time the surviving whales were showing signs of extreme stress. Local resident Jocelyn Flint, who visited the site after her son spotted the whales while shark fishing, expressed her devastation, saying, “There are babies… There’s just families of them. Their eyes are open, they’re looking at me, like ‘help’. It’s just absolutely horrific.”
Attempts to return the animals to the sea were hindered by rough conditions. Despite efforts from a skilled team to relocate and refloat two of the whales, they 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.
A tough decision amid rising concerns
With forecasts predicting similar challenging conditions for the following days, wildlife veterinarians made the heartbreaking decision to euthanise the remaining whales. Dr. Carlyon emphasized the necessity of this choice, stating, “The longer these animals are out stranded, the longer they are suffering. All alternative options have been unsuccessful; euthanasia is always a last resort.”
Planned to commence on Wednesday and extend into Thursday, this grim procedure, which involves shooting the animals, reflects the severity of their plight. Authorities are also deliberating on how to dispose of the carcasses, keeping in mind the site’s cultural significance to Aboriginal communities. A spokesperson noted that it might be a situation of “letting nature run its course.”
The public has been urged to steer clear of the site, as nearby bushfires and restricted road access pose additional risks. It’s worth noting that Tasmania is known for being a hotspot for whale strandings, with more than 80% of such incidents occurring there, particularly along its west coast.
This tragic event adds to a series of mass strandings in Tasmania, which have included the country’s worst in 2020, where around 470 pilot whales stranded at Macquarie Harbour, resulting in significant loss of life despite extensive rescue efforts.
Whales are highly social animals that often strand in groups, reflecting their close-knit communities. While the reasons behind such beachings remain a subject of research, some experts suggest that disorientation while hunting can lead these mammals towards the shore, while others believe one individual can inadvertently guide the entire pod into danger.