Almost 200 whales beached on King Island

02 March 2009 | 11:18:16 AM | Source: SBS staff and agencies

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More than 400 whales have stranded themselves on Tasmania in the past four months

Nearly 200 whales and several dolphins have stranded themselves on a beach on Tasmania's King Island.

About 194 pilot whales and six or seven bottlenose dolphins began stranding on Naracoopa Beach on King Island, about halfway between Tasmania and Victoria, on Sunday evening.

Chris Arthur from Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service said about 140 of the animals had died, but hopes were high that the 50 or so remaining whales could be saved.

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"While there are animals alive, there is always hope," Mr Arthur said.

"These are fairly robust animals, pilot whales. We've experienced that in the past," he said.

"DPIW (Department of Primary Industries and Water) and Parks and Wildlife mobilised staff overnight and a number of staff will be moving to the island this morning," Mr Arthur said.

Race against time

Local residents have also offered assistance to help return the creatures to the water.

Mr Arthur said it was not common to have both whales and dolphins strand simultaneously.

"I know of a number of strandings like that (with both whales and dolphins) but it is unusual," Mr Arthur said.

About 80 per cent of Australia's whale beachings take place in Tasmania.

The latest beaching takes the total number of whales stranded around the island in the past four months to nearly 400.

More than 150 pilot whales died after beaching themselves on the remote west coast in November and in January 48 sperm whales died on a sandbar off Perkins Island.



 

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