About 230 pilot whales, also known as pilot dolphins, have been spotted off the west coast of Tasmania, Australia, but only half of the cetaceans have been found alive, local authorities said.
“A group of about 230 cetaceans ran aground near the port of Macquarie,” Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment said.
“It appears that about half of the animals are alive,” the ministry added.
Aerial photographs show a desert scenario with dozens of marine mammals scattered across the vast beach.
Authorities say several marine conservation experts and a team with cetacean rescue materials are being sent to the region.
“Whales are a protected species, even after their death, tampering with the carcass is an offense,” the ministry warned.
Nearly two years ago, the area was the scene of yet another mass beaching of about 500 pilot dolphins, of which only about 100 survived.
The reasons for these phenomena are not fully understood, but scientists suggest that they may be caused by the resettlement of some representatives of cetacean groups after feeding too close to the coast.
Since pilot whales are very social animals, they can follow those members of their group who go astray and are in danger.
Pilot dolphins were stranded a day after 14 sperm whales were found on an island off the southeast coast of Tasmania.
Sperm whales were found on King Island, Tasmania, in Bass Strait, between Melbourne and the northern coast of Tasmania.
Griffith University marine scientist Olaf Meinecke told the Associated Press news agency that finding sperm whales stranded was unusual, but explained that global warming could change ocean currents and alter the whales’ traditional food routes.
In these cases, the animals “move to other areas and look for other food sources,” Meinecke said.
However, “when they do this, they are no longer in the best physical condition because they can starve, which can lead to more risk and possibly too close to the coast,” he concluded.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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