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Most of the 270 humpback whales have been trapped on an isolated sandbar in Macquarie Harbor, western Tasmania, Australia, since Monday.
During the day, rescue teams will try to get some of the whales out to sea to find out how the rest of the rescue effort will unfold.
– We will analyze the behavior of the whales and see what we can do with them. If we can move them in the water or do we have to try another alternative, says marine biologist Kris Carlyon at a press conference.
The complicated rescue it may take several days.
– Animals are scattered over a large area and in places that are very difficult to access. We’ve started with the people who have the best odds and who we can handle, says Kris Carlyon.
A door whale can weigh up to three tons.
– Some animals may simply be too big or too tough for us to do anything, Carlyon continues.
About 60 people, including volunteers and fish farm workers, are assisting in the effort. The cold, wet weather makes the job more inhospitable for the rescue team, but it’s a boon for the whales, who then stay wet and can survive longer, according to Carlyon.
Not uncommon that whales are stranded in Tasmania, but that so many whales are stranded in the same area at the same time has not happened in at least ten years.
It is not clear why whales swim lost in this way. But experts say they generally follow a leader and often want to rally around people who are sick or in need. This means that the illness or confusion of one animal can result in the death of many.
