A team of experts at a remote beach in Tasmania has euthanised about 90 false killer whales, which survived a mass stranding near Arthur River. The pod of 157 whales had beached for 24-48 hours, with the surviving animals under extreme stress.
The site is difficult to access and transport rescue equipment due to its rugged terrain. Despite attempts to relocate two whales, they were unsuccessful in refloating them.
Experts say that euthanasia is always a last resort due to the longer suffering of stranded animals as time passes. The grim task is expected to begin on Wednesday but will continue on Thursday.
This incident highlights the challenges faced by Australian whale strandings, with over 80% occurring in Tasmania’s west coast. Authorities have asked the public to avoid the site due to nearby bushfires and limited road access.
In recent years, Tasmania has seen a series of mass whale strandings, including its worst-ever in 2020. False killer whales can grow up to 6m long and weigh 1.5 tonnes, but they haven’t mass-stranded in the region in over 50 years.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/race-save-whales-australia-mass-005223887.html