Final stranded whale dies on Ocean Beach, Tasmania, Australia

November 17, 2011

The last of a pod of whales stranded on Tasmania’s west coast has died, despite a four-day rescue effort.

Rescuers found 22 sperm whales dead on Ocean Beach, near the entrance to Macquarie Harbour on Saturday, but were able to refloat another two stranded whales on Sunday.

Two minke whales and a sperm whale have since been found dead in Macquarie Harbour.

The Tasmanian Department of Wildlife’s Chris Arthur said the last of the pod – a 12-metre sperm whale – died last night.

“We did everything possible to save this whale,” Mr Arthur said.

“The Tasmanian team assisting at the rescue are world leaders in whale rescue and our role is to give whales every possible opportunity to survive, which is what we did during the past several days.

“We were fortunate in that we were able to assist two whales to return to the open ocean on Sunday.”

AAP

theage.com.au

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25 whales dead, rescue attempt of others on Tasmania’s west coast
To Mass Animal Death on Wednesday, November 16, 2011