About a third of the 270 whales stranded off Tasmania’s west coast are believed to have died as authorities race to save the remaining mammals.
The large pod of pilot whales has become stuck on a sandbar at Macquarie Heads in Macquarie Harbour near Strahan, about 190km west of Hobart.
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service regional manager Nic Deka said on Tuesday morning most of the 270 whales were stranded on a sandbar about 100 to 200m offshore.
He said the best chance of rescuing the whales was with an outgoing tide, which had started on Tuesday morning and would continue until about noon.
“If they become fatigued and roll onto their side they effectively drown,” he told 3AW radio.
On Monday Mr Deka said a rescue operation would begin on Tuesday but it was difficult to tell how many whales were dead and alive.
“There are three different sites involved … in total, there are about 270 pilot whales that have been stranded,” he told the ABC.
“The main pod that’s stranded is on a sandbar that’s about 100 metres off the Macquarie Heads boat ramp and there’s a further pod on another sandbar several hundred metres further out from there.
“Whale strandings are not uncommon in Tasmania, and whale strandings of this scale are not uncommon either, but certainly we haven’t had one for at least 10 years.”
Tasmanian police said on Monday they were working to help with fish farms and local industry as part of the broader response.
“Members of the public are asked not to enter the water in boats,” police said.
“People wishing to visit the area must only park in the large carpark at Macquarie Heads boat ramp and walk the 200m on foot.”
Earlier, a Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) spokeswoman said marine conservation experts were being deployed.
“Marine experts will assess the scene and the situation and will provide updates as the day progresses,” the spokeswoman said.
DPIPWE staff and Tasmania Police are at the scene managing the incident.
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2020-09-21 22:18:45Z
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