Whale tragedy off Australia: 90 animals fight for their lives, then all die

Arthur River (Tasmania) - A huge group of small killer whales has become stranded off the coast of the island of Tasmania. For a long time, rescue teams tried to save the animals, but then came the sad certainty.

The current sea conditions make it impossible to rescue the animals. They are repeatedly washed up by the current.
The current sea conditions make it impossible to rescue the animals. They are repeatedly washed up by the current.  © Jocelyn Flint/Jocelyn Flint/AP/dpa

As ABC News reports, the "mass stranding" occurred on Wednesday morning (local time) in the north-west of the island.

A group of 157 small killer whales stranded on the coast for unknown reasons. At the time of the sighting, almost 25 of the marine mammals had already died.

According to an interview with the head of operations, Shelley Graham, the rescue turned out to be more difficult than expected. Helpers tried in vain to bring some of the killer whales back into the sea. "But we were not successful. The sea conditions prevent the animals from getting back into the sea. They kept washing up," said Graham.

In order to rescue the whales, each one would have to be loaded onto a trailer and transported several kilometers further to a more suitable beach. This would take a lot of time. Time that the small killer whales no longer have.

For this reason, the authorities have decided to kill the remaining 90 animals.

First stranding of small killer whales in 50 years

Researchers are still puzzling over the reason for this mass stranding.
Researchers are still puzzling over the reason for this mass stranding.  © Uncredited/Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania/AP/dpa

Marine biologist Dr. Kris Carlyon had the following to say about the decision: "It's a complicated situation, but we know it will be the best thing for the animals."

Carlyon suspects that the group became stranded because one of the lead animals was probably sick or disoriented.

He continues: "We have a very complex coastline here in Tasmania, and strandings happen all the time, especially in the west."

This is the first time in 50 years that a group of small killer whales has stranded off the coast.

Whale carcasses may be left on the beach

Of the 157 animals, only around 130 were still alive at the time of the sighting.
Of the 157 animals, only around 130 were still alive at the time of the sighting.  © Uncredited/Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania/AP/dpa

After the researchers have performed euthanasia, they want to examine the animals. However, removing the carcasses is proving difficult.

At the moment, officials are reluctant to use large machines to retrieve the dead marine mammals. For one thing, the beach is very remote, and for another, a cultural heritage site of the Aborigines, the indigenous people of Australia, is very close by.

So it may well be that the carcasses are simply "left on the beach" so that "nature can take its course", one of the emergency crews told ABC News.