Animals
More than 30 dead pilot whales discovered on beach in Tasmania
More than 30 dead pilot whales have been discovered on a beach in Tasmania. photo
© -/Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania via AAP/dpa
Pilot whale strandings are sadly not uncommon in Tasmania, but also in other parts of Australia. The animals’ behavior still puzzles experts today.
There are 34 on the Australian island of Tasmania Pilot whales died on a beach. It is still unclear what caused the mass stranding on the remote Freycinet Peninsula on the east coast, the state’s Marine Conservation Program (MCP) said.
Eyewitnesses said the sight of the dead marine mammals was devastating and difficult to bear. “After the initial veterinary examination of the pilot whales, there were no significant findings or signs of injury,” the statement said.
According to media reports, the pilot whales (also known as pilot whales) were discovered on Bryans Beach on Tuesday. Due to the remote location, there is no practical way to remove the carcasses from the beach, the MCP wrote. The population was asked to keep their distance. “We don’t know why the whales became stranded and it is often not possible to determine this.” However, the decaying animals often attracted sharks. Swimmers should therefore avoid the region.
Strandings of pilot whales are not uncommon in Tasmania, but also in other parts of Australia. Last year, more than 200 pilot whales died in shallow Macquarie Bay in western Tasmania. The animals’ behavior still puzzles experts today. What is certain, however, is that pilot whales form extremely close bonds with one another. At certain times of the year they travel in large groups, which increases the risk of mass strandings.