More than 30 dead pilot whales discovered on a beach in Tasmania
On the Australian island of Tasmania, 34 pilot whales have died on a beach. It is still unclear what caused the mass stranding on the remote Freycinet Peninsula on the east coast, according to the state's Marine Conservation Program (MCP).
Eyewitnesses said the sight of the dead marine mammals was devastating and difficult to bear. "Upon initial veterinary examination of the pilot whales, there were no significant findings or signs of injury," the statement said.
According to media reports, the pilot whales were discovered on Bryans Beach on Tuesday. Due to the remote location, there was no practical way to remove the carcasses from the beach, the MCP wrote. The public was asked to keep their distance. "We do not know why the whales stranded and it is often not possible to determine this." However, the decomposing animals often attract sharks. Swimmers should therefore avoid the region.
Pilot whale strandings are not uncommon in Tasmania, but also in other parts of Australia. Last year, more than 200 pilot whales died in the shallow Macquarie Bay in the west of Tasmania. Experts are still puzzled by the animals' behavior. What is certain, however, is that pilot whales form extremely close bonds with each other. At certain times of the year, they travel in large pods, which increases the risk of mass strandings.
The marine biologists conducting research in Tasmania's science institutions are eager to study the behaviour of pilot whales to prevent future mass strandings. Despite being a common occurrence in Tasmania and other Australian coasts, the reasons behind these animals' mass strandings remain a mystery in the field of animal ecology.
Source: www.dpa.com
