Australia: Scores of false killer whales to be euthanised after mass stranding in Tasmania

Australian authorities are euthanizing approximately 90 false killer whales stranded on a remote Tasmanian beach. On-site expert teams stated that rescuing these whales was impossible due to the complexity of the situation. These whales belong to a pod of 157 that stranded near the Arthur River in northwestern Tasmania. The remaining whales died shortly after stranding.

Tasmania has experienced a series of large-scale whale strandings in recent years, including the country's worst recorded stranding in 2020. However, a mass stranding of false killer whales in the area has not occurred for over 50 years. False killer whales are biologically one of the largest dolphin species, bearing similarities to orcas. They can grow up to 6 meters (19 feet) long and weigh up to 1.5 tons.

Local resident Jocelyn Flint told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that her son discovered the whales while shark fishing at night, and she arrived at the scene on Wednesday morning. "There were baby whales... they were a family. Their eyes were open, and they were looking at me as if to say 'save me'." "It was just awful."

Marine biologist Kris Carlyon told the media that the location, approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the city of Launceston, was extremely difficult to access, making it hard to transport any rescue equipment. "This is probably the trickiest location I've seen in the 16 years I've been doing this job in Tasmania," he said. "We're talking about a very rugged, steep, single-lane track to get to the site. We can get four-wheel-drive vehicles in, but not much else."

The harsh conditions meant that the animals could not be returned to the sea at the stranding site, so the expert team attempted to move and refloat two whales, but were unsuccessful. Shirley Graham of Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service said: "These animals couldn't get past the surf zone. They just kept turning around and coming back to the beach." With similar weather conditions expected for the next two days, expert wildlife veterinarians made the "difficult" and "distressing" decision to euthanize the remaining whales.

Dr. Carlyon said: "The longer these animals are stranded, the more suffering they endure. All other alternatives have failed, and euthanasia is always the last resort." The grim task – including shooting the animals – was expected to begin on Wednesday and continue into Thursday. Authorities are still investigating how to dispose of the whale carcasses. The site has significant cultural heritage for Indigenous Australians, so a department spokesperson said earlier that "it may be a... let nature take its course situation."

Authorities have asked the public to avoid the area due to nearby bushfires and limited road access. More than 80% of whale strandings in Australia occur in Tasmania, usually on its west coast. In 2020, about 470 pilot whales stranded in Macquarie Harbour further south, and despite rescue efforts, about 350 of them died. In 2022, another 200 whales stranded in the same harbor.

Whales are highly social mammals known for mass strandings because they travel in large, close-knit groups that rely on constant communication. There are several theories about why strandings occur. Some experts say the animals may become disoriented after chasing the fish they prey on close to shore. Others believe that a single individual may mistakenly lead the entire group ashore.