More than 150 whales are stranded on a remote beach near Arthur River in Tasmania.
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania said a group of 157 false killer whales had become stranded on Wednesday morning, with initial observations showing 136 were still alive.
An NRE Tasmania spokesperson said the Marine Conservation Program was working alongside staff from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service to conduct initial assessments and plan an appropriate response.
“Stranding response in this area is complex due to the inaccessibility of the site, ocean conditions and the challenges of getting specialist equipment to the remote area,” an NRE Tasmania statement read.
“If it is determined there is a need for help from the general public, a request will be
made through various avenues.”
The department said it had a comprehensive cetacean incident manual that had undergone “extensive review” since a similar mass stranding in 2020.
NRE Tasmania has reminded Tassie residents that whales, even dead ones, are a protected species, and it is an offence to interfere with a carcass.
Locals and tourists have been advised to avoid the area, as there is an active bushfire response on the state’s west coast.
More to come.