Grim end to 'horrific' stranding of false killer whales

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania will be forced to euthanise false killer whales after a mass stranding in Tasmania.

Transcript

00:00The Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Tasmania, is currently responding to a mass

00:04whale stranding on Tasmania's west coast, where a pod of 157 whales has stranded near

00:10Arthur River.

00:11The animals appear to be false killer whales.

00:13Initial observations indicate that approximately 90 animals are still alive on the beach.

00:20A team from NRE Tas, encompassing the Marine Conservation Program and Tasmania Parks and

00:26Wildlife Staff, have mobilised, including vets and marine biologists, to site.

00:33Wildlife crews arrived on site this morning and are currently assessing animal welfare

00:38and options for rescue.

00:40However, initial assessments indicate that re-floating the whales will be difficult due

00:45to the inaccessibility of the site, ocean conditions and the challenges of getting specialised

00:52equipment to the remote area.

00:54Animal welfare will be a priority during this response, as well as the safety and wellbeing

01:01of departmental staff.