'Surreal scene': 230 pilot whales stranded in Australia, half of them alive

It's a devastating event. Images have showed around 230 pilot whales stranded on the west coast of Tasmania.
Only half appeared to be alive.

Aerial images on Wednesday showed dozens of black glossy mammals strewn along a rugged stretch of beach where the frigid southern ocean meets the coast.


"A pod of approximately 230 whales has stranded near Macquarie Harbour," AFP quoted a statement from Tasmania's Department of Natural Resources and Environment. "It appears about half of the animals are alive."

Pilot whales, among the largest of the oceanic dolphins, are highly social and may remain with their birth pod throughout their lifetime.

The causes of such mass strandings are not fully understood. Nearly two years ago there was another mass stranding in the same region, with only a 111 out of 470 stranded pilot whales surviving.

Pilot whales can follow podmates who stray into danger. Scientists said the mass stranding could have been because of pods going off track after feeding too close to shore.

Authorities have asked people to stay clear of the stranded whales.

“Whales are a protected species, even once deceased, and it is an offence to interfere with a carcass,” the environment department said.

Rescue efforts were underway to save those still alive, AP reported.

The Irish Times quoted a rescuer as saying some of the whales could be heard growling and clicking.

“It’s a surreal scene. I’m seeing about 200 whales here on the beach. I’d say about half are alive, " said rescuer Tom Mountney.

Rescue efforts included getting the alive ones onto special blankets to right them and triaging the smaller ones.