About 230 long-finned pilot whales are stranded on a beach in Australia. It is in the same location where 350 died two years ago.
Pilot whales stranded on Australian beach
Just one day after 14 sperm whales were found dead on Australia’s King Island beach, about 230 long-finned pilot whales were stranded at Macquarie Harbour. It is located near Strahan on the western coast of Tasmania. As per the Department of Natural Resources, the animals were stuck near Hell’s harbor, the entrance of the harbor. “A pod of approximately 230 whales has stranded near Macquarie Harbour. It appears about half of the animals are alive,” revealed the statement.
Additionally, the department also revealed that Environment Tasmania Marine Conservation Program (MCP) is aiming to assemble rescue gear. They will be heading to the location soon. “Even once deceased, it is an offense to interfere with a carcass,” they reminded. Exactly, two years ago on September 21, Australia witnessed one of its worst mass strandings of whales. Out of 470 pilot whales, 350 died and only 11 were rescued.
Why is this happening?
The cause of the mass stranding is not properly understood. According to researchers, it could be a result of pods going off track after feeding close to the shores. Moreover, Pilot whales grow longer than six meters and are sociable animals. They are known to follow pod mates who venture into danger. Hence, when an old, injured or sick member swims ashore, others follow, trying to respond to its distress signal.
On the other hand, other researchers believe the gently sloping beaches in the region confuse the whales’ sonar and let them think they are in open water. Wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon believes the deaths are a “misadventure”. Carlyon is with the state government’s conservation agency. “The most common reason for stranding events is misadventure, they might also have been foraging close to shore, there might have been food and possibly they were caught on a low tide,” she stated. However, it is “the theory at the moment”.