Tasmania's danger zone for whales

A huge group of whales has ended up on Tasmania's beaches for the second time in just two years. 226 pilot whales have been found, in a spot near to a similar event in 2020, which involved 500 animals.

The area is a problem location for both pilot whales and sperm whales. Sam Thalmann is a specialist in sea creatures with the Tasmania Environment Department.

Sam Thalmann: "so we're experienced, and we've developed some very special techniques that are adapted to the local conditions. And so we're getting better all the time. It's still a very challenging response to undertake. But yeah, we- we improve every time, and it's always a challenge."

The biologists are learning quickly, and spent hours trying to rescue the animals. However, nearly 200 whales died. At present, the experts are taking a close look at the dead whales, as they attempt to understand what's been happening.

Sam Thalmann: "We're doing investigations and collecting samples that will- hopefully, help us then understand some of the mechanisms and and hopefully, potentially the processes as to why these animals strand at this location."

Pilot whales are sociable animals and it's believed that one whale may lead them into danger by accident. It's known that old or sick whales sometimes swim towards land and younger group members could follow. Some scientists also believe these Tasmanian beaches, which go very slowly into the sea, might confuse them.

This time, 32 whales from the group were eventually led to safer, deeper waters. Before letting them go, each creature was tagged, which means they can be carefully watched.

But rescuers worry that these animals aren't yet out of danger.

Sam Thalmann: "There may be a few that may restrand, unfortunately, but we expect the, by far the- the majority, will head out to sea. But we'll certainly keep surveillance and monitoring for those ones that do restrand and then we'll assess their condition, if and when that happens."

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