A large group of false killer whales stranded on a Tasmanian beach may soon face euthanasia. On February 18, 157 of these whales were discovered on the northwest coast of Tasmania. Experts are still uncertain about what caused them to beach themselves. By the following day, only 90 whales were still alive, according to the Associated Press.
Rescue efforts have been challenging. The wave conditions have made it hard to successfully return the whales to the water. Shelley Graham, the incident controller, reported that the poor weather is expected to last for several days. Despite attempts to refloat two of the whales, the ocean conditions kept preventing them from moving beyond the surf.
Marine biologist Kris Carlyon noted that euthanasia is a last resort. Sadly, no other rescue methods have worked, making this a more humane choice for the suffering animals. He emphasized that the longer the whales remain stranded, the more they endure.
False killer whales resemble orcas but belong to the dolphin family. They can weigh up to 1.5 tons and usually reside in warm offshore waters. This tragic event highlights the vulnerabilities of marine life and the challenges faced during rescue operations.
