EXPERTS have been unable to explain why a pod of 14 young male sperm whales were stranded this week at Manuka on the west coast of King Island. All were dead at the time the stranding was reported. Marine Conservation Program (MCP) wildlife biologists and a vet travelled to the island to conduct investigations including necropsy where possible and to collect valuable samples. The whales will be left to naturally decompose.
Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife senior ranger Shelley Graham, said an aerial inspection would determine if there are any other whales in the area. Parks and Wildlife Service staff are on site at Whalebone Bay monitoring the situation. “It is not unusual for sperm whales to be sighted in Tasmania and the area the whales have stranded is within the normal range and habitat for sperm whales,” she said.
“While further inquiries are yet to be carried out, it is possible the whales were part of the same bachelor pod – a group of younger male sperm whales associating together after leaving he maternal group. “Members of the public are reminded it is an offence to interfere with protected wildlife, including being in possession of parts of a dead whale, and are asked to keep their distance.
“Surfers and swimmers are asked to avoid the immediate area as the carcasses may attract sharks.” Locals said this stranding was not the first in the area.
Individual beached whales are found from time to time around the King Island coastline.
On the east coast, in March 2009, King Islanders worked together in a three-day operation to save 54 of 172 beached pilot whales stranded at Naracoopa. In November 2004, 97 long finned whales and bottle nosed dolphins were beached at Blowhole Beach in Sea Elephant Bay.
Another mass stranding was reported in the 1990s. Sightings of free-swimming or stranded whales and dolphins should be reported to 0427 WHALES.