About 230 whales have been stranded on Tasmania’s west coast, simply days after 14 sperm whales have been discovered beached on an island off the southeastern coast.
The pod, which is stranded on Ocean Beach, seems to be pilot whales and at the very least half are presumed to nonetheless be alive, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania stated Wednesday.
A group from the Marine Conservation Program was assembling whale rescue gear and heading to the realm, the division stated.
A resident informed the Australian Broadcasting Corp. the whales have been seen close to the doorway to Macquarie Harbour and described the stranding as a “massive event.”
David Midson, normal supervisor of the West Coast Council, urged folks to remain clear.
“Whales are a protected species, even as soon as deceased, and it’s an offence to intrude with a carcass,” the surroundings division stated.
Griffith University marine scientist Olaf Meynecke stated it is uncommon for sperm whales to clean ashore. He stated that warmer temperatures is also altering the ocean currents and transferring the whale’s conventional meals sources.
“They will be going to different areas and searching for different food sources,” Meynecke stated. “When they do this, they are not in the best physical condition because they might be starving so this can lead them to take more risks and maybe go closer to shore.”
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This picture offered by Huon Aquaculture, exhibits whales stranded at Macquarie Harbour in Strahan, Tasmania, Australia Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. About 230 whales have been stranded on Tasmania’s west coast, simply days after 14 sperm whales have been discovered beached on an island off the southeastern coast. Credit: Andrew Breen/Huon Aquaculture by way of AP
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This picture offered by Huon Aquaculture, exhibits whales stranded at Macquarie Harbour in Strahan, Tasmania, Australia Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. About 230 whales have been stranded on Tasmania’s west coast, simply days after 14 sperm whales have been discovered beached on an island off the southeastern coast. Credit: Andrew Breen/Huon Aquaculture by way of AP
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This picture offered by Huon Aquaculture, exhibits whales stranded at Macquarie Harbour in Strahan, Tasmania, Australia Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. About 230 whales have been stranded on Tasmania’s west coast, simply days after 14 sperm whales have been discovered beached on an island off the southeastern coast. Credit: Andrew Breen/Huon Aquaculture by way of AP
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This picture offered by Huon Aquaculture, exhibits whales stranded at Macquarie Harbour in Strahan, Tasmania, Australia Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. About 230 whales have been stranded on Tasmania’s west coast, simply days after 14 sperm whales have been discovered beached on an island off the southeastern coast. Credit: Linton Kringle/Huon Aquaculture by way of AP
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This picture offered by Huon Aquaculture, exhibits whales stranded at Macquarie Harbour in Strahan, Tasmania, Australia Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. About 230 whales have been stranded on Tasmania’s west coast, simply days after 14 sperm whales have been discovered beached on an island off the southeastern coast. Credit: Andrew Breen/Huon Aquaculture by way of AP
Fourteen sperm whales have been found Monday afternoon on King Island, a part of the state of Tasmania within the Bass Strait between Melbourne and Tasmania’s northern coast. The division stated it isn’t uncommon for sperm whales to be sighted in Tasmania.
The pilot whale is infamous for stranding in mass numbers, for causes that aren’t fully understood.
Two years in the past, about 470 long-finned pilot whales have been discovered beached on sandbars off Tasmania’s west coast within the largest mass-stranding on report in Australia. After a weeklong effort, 111 of these whales have been rescued however the remainder died.
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Some 230 whales beached in Tasmania; rescue efforts underway (2022, September 21)
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