
Experts give up hope for 157 false killer whales stranded on remote Australian beach
Marine experts have given up hope of rescuing more than 150 false killer whales that stranded on a remote beach on Australia's island state of Tasmania, officials said on Wednesday.
Experts including veterinarians were at the scene near the Arthur River on Tasmania's northwestern coast where 157 whales were discovered on an exposed surf beach on Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment said.
Unfavorable ocean and weather conditions, which prevented the whales from being rescued on Wednesday, were forecast to persist for days, incident controller Shelley Graham said.
"We have been out in the water this morning and have relocated and attempted to refloat two whales but didn't have success as the ocean conditions weren't allowing the animals to get past the break. The animals are continuously restranding," Graham said in a statement.
Marine biologist Kris Carlyon said the survivors would be euthanized.
"The longer these animals are out stranded, the longer they are suffering. All alternative options have been unsuccessful," Carlyon said.
The department said there were 136 survivors on Wednesday morning but that assessment was revised down to 90 within a few hours.
The inaccessibility of the beach, ocean conditions and challenges to getting specialist equipment to the remote area complicated the response.
The young whales weighed as little as 1,100 pounds, while the adults weighed 3.3 tons. Despite their name, false killer whales are one of the largest members of the dolphin family.
Department liaison officer Brendon Clark said the stranding was the first by false killer whales in Tasmania since 1974. That was a pod of more than 160 whales that landed on a beach near Stanley on the northwest coast. Strandings in Tasmania are usually pilot whales.
Clark declined to speculate on why the latest pod might have stranded. Carcasses of dead whales would be examined for clues, he said.
A helicopter reconnaissance on Tuesday afternoon determined that there were no other whales within 6 miles of the stranded pod, he said.
Some could have been stranded for as long as 48 hours by early Wednesday.
Arthur River resident Jocelyn Flint said her son had discovered the stranded whales around midnight while fishing for shark.
She said she had gone to the scene in the dark hours of the morning and returned after dawn, but the whales were too big to be refloated.
"The water was surging right up and they were thrashing. They're just dying, they've sunk down in the sand," Flint said Wednesday morning. "I think it's too late.
"There are little babies. Up one end, there's a lot of big ones. It's sad," she added.
In 2022, 230 pilot whales stranded further south on the west coast at Macquarie Harbor.
The largest mass stranding in Australian history occurred in the same harbor in 2020 when 470 long-finned pilot whales became stuck on sandbars. Most of the beached whales died on both occasions.
The reasons for the beachings are unclear. Reasons could include disorientation caused by loud noises, illness, old age, injury, fleeing predators and severe weather.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Residents erupt as entire Aussie suburb left smelling 'like a toilet' after major leak
Residents of an Australian suburb are complaining their local area "smells like a toilet" after a deluge of human waste began spreading through the area. Aerial images show thousands of litres of human excrement pooling in a sports field in Perth's south, which has slowly run down to the popular tourist area of Fremantle, prompting authorities to plead with the public to avoid recreational activities like fishing. The problem was caused by a burst sewer pipe in Beaconsfield four days ago. Dean Stacey, a spokesperson from the Water Corporation, explained the ongoing issue is "quite complex". The initial leak caused smaller and related overflows in neighbouring suburbs, which made their way into the Swan River, a major waterway. "The repair in Spearwood is quite complex, instead of being able to weld a band around that pipeline, we're having to prefabricate a new section of pipeline,' he said. While the leak has been stopped, authorities are now scrambling to custom-make new pipes to fix the spill. After the pipe burst on Friday, residents reported a foul smell wafting from the leafy Perth suburb, Nine News reported. "[I] went out to look and you could smell it," one resident said. Another said it "smells like a toilet." Water Corporation has warned residents that it's expected to take "some time" to make the repairs. 'Given the complexity of the wastewater network, there remains a risk of further localised overflows," it said. "As repairs progress, the public is asked to avoid affected areas. Warning signage, security, and barricades are in place for the community's protection." Water Corporation is working with the WA Department of Health, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation to ensure public safety. 'In the event of contact with any residual wastewater, wash hands thoroughly with soap and clean water and disinfect any surfaces exposed to wastewater,' it said. If locals begin to feel unwell or experience symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and nausea, seek medical advice. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Incredible drone photo shows 'prolific' problem costing Australia $100m annually
An Australian pest controller has highlighted a destructive issue impacting rural Australia, causing a $100 million burden on the agricultural industry every year. Incredible drone images of an oat paddock on the mid North Coast of New South Wales highlight just how effectively and systematically feral pigs can dig up crops in search of their next meal. Licensed shooter Nathan told Yahoo News that pigs are "prolific" in the area. It took him just four hours to take down 75 of the invasive beasts earlier this week. "It looks like a WW2 field in Normandy after a mortar barrage," he said of the destruction caused by the pests. To Nathan, it highlights exactly what a population of feral pigs can do in a "very short space of time" on soft, wet ground. In NSW, it's estimated that pigs occupy up to 60 per cent of the state. They spread weeds, disease, and outcompete native species. While it's widely accepted that feral pigs will never be completely eradicated in mainland Australia, the shocking images have prompted calls for a "realistic" approach to tackling the issue. Dr Carol Booth from the Invasive Species Council told Yahoo News pigs are "well known" for causing such damage, adding that it's a "real problem". The omnivorous animals will "eat all sorts", even digging up native turtles and their eggs. "They're after roots and grubs and insects and seeds and worms, so there's a lot of food for them in the soil," she explained. "It's not just in paddocks but in natural habitats, and you often come across diggings and instantly recognise them as pigs." The economic burden of such destruction falls heavily on crop growers and pastoralists. "If they get a big mob of pigs, they'll lose some of their crop or pasture," Booth said. President of the Australian Pig Doggers and Hunters Association (APDHA), Ned Makim previously told Yahoo the onus has fallen on landowners to eliminate the species — who he likened to rodents. Some land owners are calling in vertebrate pest controllers like Nathan while others are offering free accommodation to shooters whose sole responsibility is to keep their populations down. 🐗 Bold new national park plan to hunt invasive species 📸 Incredible photos show major triumph in $100m invasive outback battle 🔥 Unexpected way pristine Aussie island wiped out invasive threat Dr Booth said that authorities need to be "totally realistic" about what it will take to solve the huge problem of feral pigs. "They are highly adaptable and they are very widespread," she said, adding that it's "not feasible" to control their populations across the entirety of our vast country. Many have called for bounties for feral pigs, foxes and cats, with one politician telling Yahoo we're "losing the battle" against the species. But Dr Booth doesn't think it's the right solution, arguing ground shooting alone is "fairly limited" across large areas. 'If you're trying to control pigs at a landscape level, hunters are not the solution because they are not effective enough," she explained. She argues a combination of aerial shooting, ground shooting, baiting and trapping is required to manage feral pig numbers, all while focusing on key at-risk areas. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Zonta International Names Lisa Blair, Advocate for Equality, an International Honorary Member on World Environment Day
OAK BROOK, Ill., June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Zonta International announced today that it would award Lisa Blair, OAM, an honorary membership in the organization, which works to build a better world for women and girls. Zonta specifically chose 5 June for this announcement as World Environment Day is also an opportunity to elevate the issue of gender equality, a cause that Ms. Blair stands firmly for within her work. Ms. Blair is the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica on her yacht, Climate Action Now. She holds eight world records, having sailed over 130,000 nm and holds an RYA Yacht Master offshore. Ms. Blair is a proud Australian adventurer, author of Facing Fear, and was a keynote speaker at the 2024 Zonta International Convention in Brisbane, Australia. There, she shared her inspirational story of how she came to be a climate activist and inspired others to take action now. Throughout her time at sea, Ms. Blair has seen how humans have a direct impact upon the environment. From being close to shore to the most remote areas in the Antarctic, she saw evidence of microplastics and the damage they cause. Determined to get the topic into the headlines, Ms. Blair chose to name her yacht, Climate Action Now, so that the topic she cares so passionately about gets mentioned in the same media that announces her record-breaking actions. Ms. Blair's upcoming Arctic Impact Project is another exercise in sustainability and action. She intends to build a sustainable boat from Basalt rock and Bio resins and sail it solo, non-stop and unassisted around the Arctic Circle. "People won't protect what they don't have a connection with," said Ms. Blair. "My goal through my projects is to take my audience to the most remote and impacted parts of our world and, through the power of storytelling, inspire them to take action." Zonta International commends Ms. Blair for her actions in drawing attention to climate action and sustainability. In times of extreme weather events, research shows that women often face greater challenges in recovering than men. This disparity stems from systemic gender inequalities that result in women having access to fewer resources and opportunities. As more climate-related disasters occur, the gap between men and women widens, complicating women's ability to rebuild their lives in the face of obstacles to their education, employment, legal rights and leadership roles. "I am incredibly honored to be awarded an honorary membership to Zonta International, they are taking strong climate action for women and girls, and I am proud to work with them so that together we can amplify the need for sustainability and protection of our planet," said Ms. Blair. Zonta International and Ms. Blair stand united in calling for swift and decisive actions that address climate change. The time to prepare is now and we must ensure the needs of women and girls are met before disaster strikes. We must work together to promote gender equality and ensure that both women and men have equal opportunities and resources to thrive. We invite all members of the global community to join us and Ms. Blair in our shared responsibility as stewards of our planet. Together, we can build a better world for women and girls by promoting climate-conscious practices in our daily lives and beyond. Contact:Kate EdrinnCommunications ManagerZonta InternationalPhone: 630-928-1400Email: 396273@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Zonta International Sign in to access your portfolio