Over 150 Dolphins Stranded on Remote Australian Beach, 90 Alive

Over 150 dolphins have become stranded on a remote beach in Australia, with around 90 still alive. Efforts are underway to rescue and care for the surviving dolphins, while the cause of the mass stranding remains unclear. Authorities and marine experts are closely monitoring the situation, providing support and resources to help ensure the best chance of survival for the remaining dolphins.

A large group of dolphins has perished after over 150 became stranded on a remote beach on Tasmania’s southern coast, according to environmental authorities. The pod, consisting of 157 dolphins from a little-known deep-sea species, was believed to have stranded in the past two days, with approximately 90 still alive as of Wednesday morning.

Officials identified them as false killer whales, a species named for their orca-like skull shape.

Brendon Clark, a state wildlife officer, explained that refloating the surviving dolphins would be challenging, as some weigh over a tonne.

“Euthanasia is an option to alleviate suffering, and we have vets available to guide decisions if necessary,” he stated.

Though it is somewhat common for false killer whales to strand themselves on Australian shores, Clark noted this was the first occurrence in 50 years in this particular region of Tasmania.

“They haven’t shown this behavior in our waters for a long time,” he added, noting the species is migratory and roams open waters globally.

The reason for their rare stranding remains unclear, though Clark hopes post-mortem examinations will shed light on the cause.

The dolphins were stranded near the Arthur River inlet, a sparsely populated area with a rugged coastline.

Photos from Tuesday showed the dolphins, with their sleek dark skin, stuck in the shallow sand as the tide washed around them.

“Stranding response is complicated here due to the remote location, ocean conditions, and the difficulty of bringing in specialized equipment,” Tasmania’s environment department remarked in a statement.

False killer whales can grow up to six meters (20 feet) in length and are known for their social nature, often gathering in pods of 50 or more.

Adult whales can weigh more than a tonne, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The species frequently experiences mass strandings, sometimes resulting in the deaths of entire pods, as reported by the Australian Museum.

Despite their involvement in mass strandings, little is known about false killer whales, and their population size remains uncertain. The Australian government lists them as “near threatened.”

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Source: NDTV‍