A group of 90 false killer whales was euthanized after becoming stranded on a remote beach in Tasmania. The whales, weighing between 500 kilograms and three tons, were found by more than 150 near the Arthur River on the island’s west coast late Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, only 90 remained alive.
Rough ocean conditions made it impossible to refloat the whales, with wind and waves forcing them back onto shore after attempts were made to send two of them out to sea. Aerial images showed the whales spread out along the beach, some half-buried in sand, while others were trapped in shallow waters near rocky outcrops.
The decision to euthanize the animals was made to minimize their suffering, as they became disorientated and distressed after hours on the beach. In previous mass stranding operations, machinery has been used to stabilize whales before release, but this was not possible due to the remote location.
Animal behaviorists say that survival rates for beached whales are low, with only a few hours of time available before deterioration sets in. The incident is the third mass stranding on Tasmania’s west coast in five years, and experts are still trying to determine if there is a discernible cause.
The last recorded mass stranding in Tasmania was 50 years ago, when a pod of 160-170 whales were found at Black River beach.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/18/australia/150-whales-stranded-tasmania-intl-latam/index.html