Nearly 200 pilot whales, also known as pilot dolphins, have died after being stranded off the west coast of Tasmania, Australia despite rescue efforts.
A group of about 230 cetaceans ran aground near Macquarie Harbor on Wednesday, the day Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment said “about half of the animals are alive.”
However, the strong waves killed more marine mammals overnight, said Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Coordinator Brandon Clark.
“Yesterday we screened the animals. [quarta-feira] as part of a preliminary assessment, and we identified the animals that had the best chance of survival (…). Today we will focus on rescue and rescue operations,” he said.
Almost two years ago, almost 500 pilot dolphins landed in the same area, of which only about 100 survived.
The reasons for these phenomena are not fully understood, but scientists have suggested 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 may follow these group members who go astray and endangered.
The day before, 14 sperm whales were found on King Island off the southeast coast of Tasmania.
Griffith University marine scientist Olaf Meinecke explained to the Associated Press news agency that it was unusual to find sperm whales washed ashore, but clarified that global warming could change ocean currents and traditional whaling 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.
