<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>338586</docID> <postdate>2025-02-19 12:40:44</postdate> <headline>Bleak outlook for whales in remote mass stranding</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-338587" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/r0_0_800_600_w1200_h678_fmax-4.webp" alt="" width="708" height="531" /></p> <caption>More than 150 suspected false killer whales are stranded on a remote Tasmanian beach. (HANDOUT/DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT TASMANIA)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Ethan James</b> in Hobart</span></p> <p><strong>It appears unlikely any whales can be saved from a pod of 157 that remain stranded on a remote beach.</strong></p> <p>Wildlife experts and veterinarians, who are at the beach near the Arthur River on Tasmania's west coast, believe the false killer whales have been stuck for 24-48 hours.</p> <p>They estimate around 90 of the group remain alive.</p> <p>The island state's west coast is a noted hotspot for mass strandings, with Australia's worst-ever beaching of 470 pilot whales occurring in 2020 further south at Macquarie Harbour.</p> <p>Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service's Brendon Clark said it would be difficult to replicate harbour rescue techniques at the latest stranding.</p> <p>"Initial assessments indicate refloating (whales) will be difficult," he said on Wednesday.</p> <p>"(This is) due to the inaccessibility of the site, ocean conditions and the challenges of getting specialised equipment to the remote area."</p> <p>The Arthur River stranding zone includes 200m of surging tidal water and is on an exposed beach, he said.</p> <p>"To try and refloat the animals directly back into the surf would be challenging ... it would present enormous safety risks for our staff and personnel," Mr Clark said.</p> <p>It is the first mass stranding of false killer whales in Tasmania in around 50 years.</p> <p>"At this stage we do not know why these animals have stranded and we won't be speculating," Mr Clark said.</p> <p>Some whales on the beach could be seen breathing and moving in footage posted by a member of the public to social media on Wednesday.</p> <p>Mr Clark said euthanasia of whales was an option, and an appropriate response to the stranding was being prepared.</p> <p>He said a call-out for help from the general public would be made, if it was determined safe and necessary.</p> <p>The parks and wildlife service is reluctant to bring heavy machinery onto the beach to remove carcasses, because of the remote location and nearby sensitive Indigenous sites.</p> <p>People have been advised to avoid the area because of a bushfire, which has put a strain on rescue resources.</p> <p>"We're conscious of fatigue and ensuring whenever we put somebody onto a rescue or  response ... that they are adequately prepared and well rested," Mr Clark said.</p> <p>In 2022, around 230 pilot whales got into trouble in shallow water at the heads of Macquarie Harbour.</p> <p>"All whales are protected species, even once deceased, and it is an offence to interfere with a carcass," the environment department said.</p> </body>