Dozens of false killer whales stranded on Australian beach to be euthanized
Global News
Marine experts have given up hope of rescuing more than 150 false killer whales are stranded on a remote beach on Australia’s island state of Tasmania, officials said on Wednesday.
Marine experts have given up hope of rescuing more than 150 false killer whales are stranded on a remote beach on Australia’s island state of Tasmania, officials said on Wednesday.
Experts including veterinarians were at the scene near the Arthur River on Tasmania’s northwestern coast where 157 whales were discovered on an exposed surf beach on Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment said.
Unfavorable ocean and weather conditions, which prevented the whales from being rescued on Wednesday, were forecast to persist for days, incident controller Shelley Graham said.
“We have been out in the water this morning and have relocated and attempted to refloat two whales but didn’t have success as the ocean conditions weren’t allowing the animals to get past the break. The animals are continuously restranding,” Graham said in a statement.
Marine biologist Kris Carlyon said the survivors would be euthanized.
“The longer these animals are out stranded, the longer they are suffering. All alternative options have been unsuccessful,” Carlyon said.
The department said there were 136 survivors on Wednesday morning but that assessment was revised down to 90 within a few hours.
The inaccessibility of the beach, ocean conditions and challenges to getting specialist equipment to the remote area complicated the response.
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