Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment has confirmed that about 230 whales have washed up on Ocean Beach, with some on a sandbar in Port Macquarie.
Nearly half of all mammals are alive, according to the Department of Environment. A whale rescue team has been sent ashore to allow marine wildlife experts to assess the situation and plan an appropriate response. Assistance is also provided by staff from the Tasmanian Parks, Wildlife Service and Tasmanian Police.
They’ve never seen so many whales on the beach at once
Sam Geretti of Southwest Expeditions in Strahan said a few were still alive at the port and most were in Ocean Beach. He said that nearly half of the 200 whales are alive. We’ve started the rescue effort – we put them on special blankets so we can handle them. The largest of them weighs more than two or three tons. “We are now classifying the smaller ones,” the expert said.
The weather was calm and some whales could be heard gnawing and pecking.
Several sources confirmed guardianRoads to Ocean Beach and Macquarie Heads were closed. A spokesman said Tasmanian police are in the area and help maintain security.
(Cover Image: NRE Tas/Getty Images)
