AssetID: 54528708
Headline: RAW VIDEO: More Than 150 False Killer Whales Stranded In Tasmania
Caption: **VIDEO AVAILABLE: CONTACT INFO@COVERMG.COM TO RECEIVE** More than 150 false killer whales beached themselves during a mass stranding near Arthur River in Tasmania, Australia on Monday and Tuesday (17-18February2025). Australian authorities are euthanising about 90 of the whales which survived the stranding as conditions have made it impossible to save the stricken cetaceans. The rest had died shortly after the stranding. Incident Controller Shelley Graham of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania’s Marine Conservation Program, said that ocean conditions had sadly doomed the whales, as they were unable to make it out to sea again. “We have been out in the water this morning and have relocated and attempted to refloat two whales but didn’t have success as the ocean conditions weren’t allowing the animals to get past the break, the animals are continuously restranding,” Graham explained. “Following expert wildlife veterinarian assessment, we have decided euthanasia will be required for animal welfare reasons,” she continued. Marine biologist and Deputy Incident Controller Dr Kris Carlyon said the team are following an approved and tested euthanisation procedure. “It is currently expected all remaining alive whales will be euthanised. The longer these animals are out stranded, the longer they are suffering. All alternative options have been unsuccessful, euthaniser is always a last resort,” Dr Carlyon added. False killer whales haven't mass stranded there in over 50 years. Despite their name, false killer whales are technically one of world's largest dolphin species, like the orcas they resemble they can grow up to 6m (19ft) and weigh 1.5 tonnes. Authorities on Wednesday that the pod had been stranded at the site for 24 to 48 hours, putting them under extreme stress. Members of the public have been asked to avoid the area. As with many mass whale strandings, it is not known what caused this stranding.
Keywords: video,photo,false killer whales,whales,feature,tasmania,animals,nature,natural world,stranding
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