<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>338586</docID> <postdate>2025-02-19 19:40:44</postdate> <headline>Grim end to ‘horrific’ stranding of false killer whales</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. Photos: 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>Authorities will begin the bleak task of euthanising dozens of false killer whales after 157 beached on Tasmania's remote west coast - a hotspot for strandings.</strong></p> <p>Crews tried unsuccessfully to re-float two of the mammals on Wednesday after members of the public reported the group had become stuck near Arthur River the previous night.</p> <p>About 90 of the whales still alive on the beach will be euthanised over coming days.</p> <p>Rough seas, windy conditions and rugged terrain have complicated the rescue and hampered efforts to get equipment to the site.</p> <p>Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service incident controller Shelley Graham said the whales they tried to re-float continually re-stranded.</p> <p>"The swell is up quite a lot. It is quite windy and rough and the animals can't get past the (surf) break to get out," she told reporters.</p> <p>"It is really unfavourable for getting the whales out into the water unfortunately.</p> <p>"Following expert veterinarian assessments we have decided euthanasia is necessary for animal welfare reasons."</p> <p>Local resident Steve Flint contacted authorities after he and his wife saw the whales on Tuesday night, following a call from his son who was there fishing.</p> <p>"It was pretty horrific. At one stage I had to turn my back on it," he said.</p> <p>"It looked to me like they were thrashing around and trying to go out. It's a terrible thing to witness.</p> <p>"It was running through my mind what we could do … there were two of us and they're quite big animals. I thought there was no way we'd be able to turn them around."</p> <p>Mr Flint said it was only the second time he had seen whales near the mouth of the Arthur River in his 40 years visiting the spot.</p> <p>The whales will be euthanised by firearm and in accordance with world-best practice, authorities say.</p> <p>Tasmania's west coast is a stranding hotspot, with Australia's worst beaching of 470 pilot whales occurring south of the Arthur River at Macquarie Harbour in 2020.</p> <p>In 2022, about 230 pilot whales got into trouble in shallow water at the heads of Macquarie Harbour.</p> <p>It is the first mass stranding of false killer whales - despite their name, technically a species of dolphin - in Tasmania in about 50 years.</p> <p>Misadventure was the likely reason for the stranding, state environment department wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon said.</p> <p>"(This species has) really strong social bonds and it can be one individual that is sick or disorientated that can draw the rest of the pod ashore," he said.</p> <p>"We have a really complex coast in Tasmania - the west coast is where we tend to see the majority of the strandings.</p> <p>"It is a really complex area for these guys to navigate … any mistake can bring the group ashore."</p> <p>Mr Carlyon said the stranding location was the trickiest he had encountered in his 16 years in the job and conditions were becoming unsafe for staff.</p> <p>"It's a big decision (to euthanise). We've had significant success re-floating mass stranded whales, typically we do get some away," he said.</p> <p>"To be faced with a situation where we don't have any options to do that, is hard."</p> <p>"(But) the animals are way outside their comfort zone ... the longer they're on shore, the more stressed they'll become."</p> <p>The whale carcasses could be left on the beach because of the remote location and a reluctance to bring machinery into the area with nearby sites of Aboriginal significance.</p> </body>