Over 150 whales became stuck in a remote coastal area of Tasmania, Australia. CNN
Wildlife officers in Australia have made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize 90 false killer whales stranded on a remote beach in Tasmania. Rough seas made rescue attempts impossible, leaving no other option to prevent their suffering.
More than 150 whales were first spotted on Tuesday near Arthur River, on Tasmania’s west coast. By Wednesday morning, only 90 were still alive. Rescuers tried to guide two whales back to sea, but strong winds and waves pushed them back to shore.
“It’s quite rough, and the animals just can’t get past the break to get out. They just keep turning around and coming back towards the beach,” said Shelley Graham from the Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service.
Aerial images showed the stranded whales scattered across the beach. Some were buried in sand, while others were stuck in shallow water near rocks. Wildlife officials identified them as false killer whales, a species rarely seen in such large strandings.
The last major stranding of false killer whales in Tasmania happened in June 1974, when a group of 160 to 170 were found at Black River Beach. It remains unclear how many survived.
Authorities decided euthanasia was the most humane solution, as the whales were in distress and had spent too much time out of the water. Without rescue equipment, moving them was impossible.
“In other strandings, we’ve used machinery to transport whales to deeper waters, but this area is too remote,” said Brendon Clark from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service.
Officials also warned the public to stay away from the site. The stranded whales, weighing between 500 kilograms and three tons, posed a safety risk.
In Tasmania, whales are protected even after death, and tampering with their remains is illegal. Marine experts say stranded whales rarely survive, as they begin to deteriorate within six hours of being beached.
