Whale rescue numbers revealed
WILDLIFE experts have managed to save 32 pilot whales after a mass stranding left nearly 200 whales dead on a beach in Tasmania.
A crew of 50 skilled workers and volunteers undertook the mammoth effort on Thursday to release and refloat the whales who had become stranded on the west coast.
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service regional operations manager Brendon Clark said rescuers had overcome “challenging conditions” to successfully rescue so many whales in a single day.
Following the huge rescue mission, several whales restranded themselves on Ocean
Beach on Thursday night. One of the whales died and another had to be euthanised for animal welfare reasons.
Mr Clark said Friday’s efforts would be spent on rescuing the three remaining pilot whales stranded on the shore.
“The priority today is to rescue and release the remaining surviving whales along with any others that may restrand, before the team begins to focus on removal and disposal operations of about 200 deceased whales,” he said.
On Wednesday, around 230 whales became stranded at the entrance to Macquarie Harbour near Strahan on Tasmania’s west coast. Mr Clark said only 35 whales had survived the night. He blamed the exposed conditions.
“We do have a high mortality rate for this particular stranding – that’s predominantly due to the exposed conditions out on Ocean Beach,” he said.
“The environmental conditions, the surf out there on the exposed west coast, is certainly taking its toll on the animals.”
Around 50 experts and experienced personnel continue to be in involved in the mission.