270 whales stranded on sandbar off Australia's Tasmania

270 whales stranded on sandbar off Australia's Tasmania

Marine biologists were planning the rescue of around 270 whales stranded on a sandbar off the remote west coast of the Australian island of Tasmania on Monday.

A rescue mission is underway but it is not clear how many of the whales might already be dead, local wildlife authorities said Monday.

Nic Deka, regional manager north-west with Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service, told Australian public broadcaster ABC that 270 pilot whales are stranded over three different sites.

Government scientists said it appeared that at least 25 of the animals, believed to be pilot whales, had already died.

Tasmania’s Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment said the whales were stranded in three groups in shallow water at Macquarie Heads, some 200 kms (120 miles) northwest of the state capital Hobart.

Rescuers with specialized equipment arrived at the site on Monday afternoon to assess the situation. They were expected to regroup on the shore as it grew dark to discuss a rescue strategy.

Officials usually respond to reports of strandings of dolphins and whales in Tasmania once every two or three weeks, on average.

"Local police are assisting with on-water logistics and liaison with fish farms and local industry as part of the broader response," the police service said in a post warning members of the public not to approach the beach in boats.

Source:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-whales/around-270-whales-stranded-on-sandbar-off-australias-tasmania-idUSKCN26C0WS

Source:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/21/australia/whales-stranded-tasmania-scli-intl/index.html

Source:
https://www.npr.org/2020/09/21/915285788/in-tasmania-a-mission-to-rescue-270-stranded-whales

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