About 200 pilot whales, also known as pilot dolphins, have washed ashore and died on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia, despite rescue efforts.
A group of about 230 cetaceans washed ashore near Macquarie Harbor on Wednesday, a day when the Tasmanian state Department of Natural Resources and Environment said “about half the animals are alive”.
However, strong waves killed more marine mammals overnight, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service co-ordinator Brendan Clarke said.
“We screened the animals yesterday [quarta-feira] As part of the preliminary assessment, we identified animals with the best chance of survival (…). Today we will focus on rescue and recovery operations,” he said.
Almost two years ago, in the same area, nearly 500 pilot dolphins were stranded on land, of which only about 100 survived.
The reasons for these phenomena are not fully understood, but scientists have suggested that they may be caused by some members of cetacean groups dispersing after feeding too close to shore.
Because pilot whales are highly social animals, they may stray and follow members of this group that are at risk of extinction.
Earlier in the day, 14 sperm whales washed ashore on King Island off Tasmania’s southeast coast.
Griffith University marine scientist Olaf Meinecke told The Associated Press that stranding sperm whales on beaches is unusual, but explained. Global warming Changing ocean currents and traditional whale feeding routes.
In these cases, Meinecke said, the animals “move to other areas and look for other food sources.” However, “when they do that, they’re no longer in the best physical condition because they can starve, so they can take more risks and go too close to shore,” he concluded.
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