230 pilot whales stranded in Australia, ‘about half’ feared dead

This handout photo taken on September 20, 2022 and received on September 21 from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania shows the carcasses pilot whales beached on Macquarie Harbour, in Tasmania. – “A pod of approximately 230 whales has stranded,” said the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment. (Photo by HANDOUT / various sources / AFP) / XGTY 

 

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Around 230 pilot whales were found stranded on the rugged west coast of Tasmania Wednesday, with Australian officials saying only half appeared to be alive.

“A pod of approximately 230 whales has stranded near Macquarie Harbour,” said the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

“It appears about half of the animals are alive.”

This handout photo taken on September 20, 2022 and received on September 21 from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania shows the carcass of one of 14 sperm whales beached on King Island, off Tasmania’s north coast. – Australian wildlife investigators were on September 21 trying to piece together why more than a dozen young male sperm whales died in a mass stranding on a remote beach in the state of Tasmania. (Photo by Handout / Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania / AFP) 

Aerial images showed a devastating scene of dozens of black glossy mammals strewn along a stretch of beach where the frigid southern ocean meets the sand.

Almost two years ago to the day the area was the scene of another mass stranding involving almost 500 pilot whales. Just over 100 survived.

The causes of mass strandings are still not fully understood.

Scientists have suggested they could be caused by pods going off track after feeding too close to shore.

Pilot whales are highly sociable and can follow podmates who stray into danger.

Officials said marine conservation experts and staff with whale rescue gear were en route to the scene.

© Agence France-Presse