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At least 90 of the 260 whales stranded in Tasmania have died. Rescuers in Australia say more whales are feared dead.
The BBC reports that marine biologists are trying to save the whales after reports spread Monday that many whales were stranded off the island’s west coast.
Rescuers said such a tactical operation could take days.
Although it is common in the area for whales to soar off the coast, not as many whales have been seen leaving the sea together in the last decade.
The last time around 200 whales landed in Tasmania was in 2009.
On Monday, scientists from the Tasmanian Maritime Conservation Program came ashore and found three groups of whales in an area called Macquarie Heads on the island. There is no road to the remote part of the island and boats rarely get there.
Some 200 whales were initially found on a shelf. A few hundred meters away, 30 more whales were found. Another 30 whales were found a short distance from the beach.
Most whales are in a “relatively inaccessible” location, from which it is quite difficult to rescue them.
On Tuesday morning, a team of about 40 trained rescuers attempted to ‘float’ some of the whales.
An attempt is made to push the whales off a shelf into deep water using tools.
Said the biologist. Chris Carleton said: “Usually we see animals trapped in high, dry places on the beach. But it is quite different. Here the animals are half trapped in the water. They may not have to go too fast to go into deep water. But here are some complications. ‘
It is not yet known why so many whales have landed. The social ties between pilot whales are very strong, the researchers say. They always go in groups. Follow the team leader.
Dr. Chris Carlyon said: ‘It could be that the accident happened due to the wrong decision of one or two of them. The pilot whale is a social species, they roam in groups.
The pilot whale averages up to 8 meters (23 feet) long and can weigh up to three tons.
