Australia’s Tasmania faced a tragic event as 157 false killer whales stranded on a remote beach, with only 90 of them still alive as of this morning. Local authorities were forced to make the difficult decision to euthanize the stranded whales as it was impossible to return them to the sea.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Tasmania confirmed today (19th) that a significant stranding of false killer whales occurred on a beach near the Arthur River on the west coast of the state. While mass strandings of whales are not uncommon on Australian beaches, this marks the first large-scale stranding of this species in Tasmania in 50 years.
Preliminary investigations suggest that these large marine mammals had been stranded for 24 to 48 hours with only 90 remaining alive when discovered. Witnesses described the scene as “horrific,” with many false killer whales struggling for survival on the beach.
Although named False Killer Whale, they are actually dolphins belonging to the dolphin family. These highly social creatures can weigh between 500 kilograms to 3 tonnes and grow up to 6 meters in length.
In response to the event, authorities have dispatched veterinarians and marine biologists to assess the condition of the surviving whales. However, the remote location, harsh sea conditions, and the presence of indigenous cultural sites nearby have made rescue efforts extremely challenging due to difficulties in transporting large specialized equipment.
Shelley Graham, an official from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, told reporters from Agence France-Presse that following assessments by veterinary experts, the decision to euthanize these animals had to be made and likely applied to all 90 false killer whales.
Biologist Kris Carlyon added that efforts to refloat these dolphins, weighing over a ton, and send them back to the sea had failed. Carlyon stated, “This morning, we attempted every method to help them refloat, but all were unsuccessful. We are truly at a loss.”
Authorities have yet to determine the specific cause behind the stranding of these false killer whales, and investigations are ongoing.
The last large-scale stranding of false killer whales in Tasmania was in June 1974, with approximately 160 to 170 false killer whales stranded at that time.
According to an Australian government information document, there is limited knowledge about false killer whales, with no reliable estimates of their population size. The Australian government has classified their conservation status as “near threatened.”