False killer whale stranding reported near Bremer Bay in southern WA with four believed to have died
A spokesperson for Parks and Wildlife said it was believed they had stranded on House Beach, about 12 kilometres east of Bremer Bay and 540km south of Perth.
It is believed the whales became stranded on Monday afternoon.
The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) confirmed four of the whales had died overnight, while three were still alive on the beach.
Bremer Bay is known for whale spotting.
(
ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding
)
Remaining whales to be euthanased
A spokesperson for the DBCA said staff were on the scene assessing the situation and would determine the most appropriate and humane course of action, likely to be euthanasia.
A shark warning has also been issued for the area.
False killer whales have been involved in recent mass strandings. In February, 157 whales became stranded on a beach near Arthur River
The southern coast is known for whale migration with many tourists flocking to the area to watch the ocean mammals.
Marine biologist Pia Markovic said false killer whale strandings were not as common as other whale species.
"We had a mass stranding in Tasmania of about 150. Most of those had to be euthanased," she said.
Marine biologist Piak Markovic says the whales may have followed a sick leader to the beach.
(
ABC News: Jon Kerr
)
Ms Markovic said the seven might be a sub-pod, as false killer whales often lived in groups in the hundreds.
"One of the leaders, usually a female as they're a matriarchal society, may have gotten a bit sick … because their social structures are so well bonded, the rest may have followed her," she said.
Ms Markovic said the species could grow up to 6 metres in length and weigh 1.5 tonnes.
"Their name comes from their skeleton or skull structure, which is similar to killer whales," she said.
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