Take our survey • Win a prize
Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Whales stranded at Macquarie Harbour in Strahan, Tasmania Linton Kringle/Huon Aquaculture via PA Images

Rescue efforts underway as 230 whales beached in Tasmania

The pod appears to be pilot whales and at least half are presumed to still be alive.

ABOUT 230 WHALES have been stranded on Tasmania’s west coast, just days after 14 sperm whales were found beached on an island off the south-eastern coast.

The pod, which is stranded on Ocean Beach, appears to be pilot whales and at least half are presumed to still be alive, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania said.

A team from the Marine Conservation Programme was assembling whale rescue gear and heading to the area, the department said.

A resident told the Australian Broadcasting Corp that the whales were visible near the entrance to Macquarie Harbour and described the stranding as a “massive event”.

David Midson, general manager of the West Coast Council, urged people to stay clear.

“Whales are a protected species, even once deceased, and it is an offence to interfere with a carcass,” the environment department said.

Griffith University marine scientist Olaf Meynecke said it is unusual for sperm whales to wash ashore.

He said that warmer temperatures could also be changing the ocean currents and moving the whale’s traditional food sources.

“They will be going to different areas and searching for different food sources,” Meynecke said.

“When they do this, they are not in the best physical condition because they might be starving so this can lead them to take more risks and maybe go closer to shore.”

14 sperm whales were discovered on Monday afternoon on King Island, part of the state of Tasmania in the Bass Strait between Melbourne and Tasmania’s northern coast.

The department said it is not unusual for sperm whales to be sighted in Tasmania.

The pilot whale is notorious for stranding in mass numbers, for reasons that are not entirely understood.

Two years ago, about 470 long-finned pilot whales were found beached on sandbars off Tasmania’s west coast in the largest mass-stranding on record in Australia. After a weeklong effort, 111 of those whales were rescued but the rest died.

Close
3 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Elma Phudd
    Favourite Elma Phudd
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 8:56 AM

    Benjamin Button was not about premature ageing?!!! Jebus

    122
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Power
    Favourite Conor Power
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 9:42 AM

    The film Jack with Robin Williams.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lydia McLoughlin
    Favourite Lydia McLoughlin
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 10:18 AM

    Typically there’s no disease to make you look younger!

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damocles
    Favourite Damocles
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 10:44 AM

    There are certain genetic combinations that can predispose people to look younger.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damocles
    Favourite Damocles
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 9:01 AM

    Why would an article on the potential dangers of inbreeding be of interest in Ireland?

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Kelly's Ego
    Favourite Alan Kelly's Ego
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 9:18 AM

    It’s their culture boss

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute michael o brien
    Favourite michael o brien
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 12:13 PM

    Story got real old,real fast

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Veronika Dvorakova
    Favourite Veronika Dvorakova
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 9:28 AM

    Thejournal.ie on top form again.
    Look up “cutis laxa”
    https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/cutis-laxa

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Cullen
    Favourite Larry Cullen
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 9:41 AM

    And I always thought that you cant put an old head on young shoulders.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emer Caffrey
    Favourite Emer Caffrey
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 11:23 AM

    looks like a happy boy

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Murphy
    Favourite Thomas Murphy
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 7:01 PM

    Why are these odd cases always in India?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Finucane
    Favourite Brian Finucane
    Report
    Aug 9th 2016, 1:39 PM

    Looks like a guy I went to school with: Joe Treleaven from Baldoyle.

    5
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds