More than 150 whales stranded on beach in remote north-western Tasmania

More than 150 whales have stranded on a beach near Arthur River, on Tasmania’s remote north-west coast.

A group of 157 animals that appear to be false killer whales have stranded, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, with initial observations showing 136 animals were still alive.

Marine conservation experts including wildlife veterinarians arrived to the site on Wednesday morning.

“Stranding response in this area is complex due to the inaccessibility of the site, ocean conditions and the challenges of getting specialist equipment to the remote area,” the environment department said in a statement.

Authorities emphasised there was an active bushfire on the state’s west coast and urged the public to avoid the stranding area.

“If it is determined there is a need for help from the general public, a request will be made through various avenues,” the department said.

“All whales are protected species, even once deceased, and it is an offence to interfere with a carcass.”

The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service is due to provide an update on the situation at a press conference at 10am Hobart time.

The Tasmanian environment department’s stranding responses are guided by a “cetacean incident manual”, which was reviewed following Australia’s worst mass whale stranding in 2020. In that incident, more than 450 long-finned pilot whales beached inside Macquarie Harbour, also on Tasmania’s west coast.

Two mass strandings in Tasmanian waters also occurred within a week in September 2022.

The false killer whale, despite its common name, is a highly sociable species of dolphin. The animals, which grow to about 6 metres long, forms large pods that can predispose them to mass strandings.

More details soon …