150 Beached Whales Wiped Out in Australia

by Christina 123 | November 30, 2008 at 05:03 am

1927 views | 84 Recommendations | 28 comments

150 PILOT WHALES have died after becoming stranded on a remote beach off Tasmania, Australia.

About 150 whales have died after being stranded in a remote coastal area of the Australian island of Tasmania.
Many of the long-finned pilot whales, which were discovered on Saturday, had been badly injured by jagged rocks.
Rescuers did manage to shepherd about 30 whales trapped in shallow reefs to safety using a small boat, an official said.
Whales pass Tasmania as they migrate to and from Antarctic waters and stranding is not uncommon.
Last week 11 whales were rescued after more than 60 became stranded off another part of the island.
Local residents and experts had worked to help this group of whales, stranded near Sandy Cape in north-west Tasmania, but most had been injured by rocks and reefs

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Paschen

at 05:21 on November 30th, 2008

That is not the first time this has happened in that area, I would like to know if there is a reason for that, especially since it seem to happen repeatedly in Tasmania, Australia.

azzayindia

at 06:12 on November 30th, 2008

that is very sad, where did they land after that in japanese kitchen

Milieunet

at 08:54 on November 30th, 2008

That is sad, but it is nature.

merlingraycat

at 11:39 on November 30th, 2008

Why isn't the government doing more to help these magnificent creatures? Is it all up to a few humanitarians who really don't have the means to help the poor whales?

Amitjha

at 21:03 on November 30th, 2008

That is an commendable effort on the part of Australian authority atleast they have saved some.The point is how these masters of sea have lost their own track, can we blame it on changing climate and related temperature profile of sea.

rpshen

at 14:06 on December 1st, 2008

so sad.

ronnroz

at 17:43 on December 1st, 2008

This photo was taken near Chetticamp, Nova Scotia, sometime in August back in 2005. Cape Breton is one of the most beautiful places. These whales are smaller in size, as big as a dolphin. They are called "Pilot Whales"

ronnroz has contributed a photo to this story.

jeremybeddows

at 23:42 on December 1st, 2008

Pilot Whale.

Jeremy Beddows

jeremybeddows has contributed a photo to this story.

rossdonald

at 04:45 on December 2nd, 2008

This photograph of a Bottle Nose Whale was taken off the coast of Tenerife earlier this year (2008). Close sightings of Whales in this region are not unusual, since these creatures are inquisitive, and hold no fear for 'man'.

rossdonald has contributed a photo to this story.

Pedal and Sea Adventures

at 08:19 on December 2nd, 2008

Approx. 5 pods mating in Bay St Lawrence off the coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. Photo by Jeff Ferguson

Pedal and Sea Adventures has contributed a photo to this story.

Marijú

at 10:13 on December 2nd, 2008

Pilot whales swimming in the Azorean waters

Marijú has contributed a photo to this story.

Qualterio

at 10:42 on December 2nd, 2008

Whale-watching off of Teneriffe.

Qualterio has contributed a photo to this story.

rumana husain

at 00:31 on December 4th, 2008

whales and sharks dying in large numbers from injuries, or they are getting stranded/trapped, or due to human fishing trends... i wonder if there are any other reasons, and is the human factor the biggest cause of their deaths?

Toby Rodawalt (not verified)

at 07:48 on December 4th, 2008

whales burp alot.... they go to shallow water to burp. Burping whales need to be careful. Their burps are stinky.

Needle nose (not verified)

at 12:10 on April 27th, 2009

Toby is right...when whales burp they can get esophageal reflux syndrome that can cause them to collide with the seashore's front. Be on the lookout for burping whales and purple tails. good luck!

Toby Rodawalt (not verified)

at 07:48 on December 4th, 2008

whales burp alot.... they go to shallow water to burp. Burping whales need to be careful. Their burps are stinky.

Angry Skater 229 (not verified)

at 12:16 on April 27th, 2009

Man WTF dewd! whales don't burp! Y do u think they got blowholez? idiotz! 626

Turtlegirl (not verified)

at 14:48 on December 4th, 2008

Depending on the current scientist you are quoting, there are several factors behind large pods of whales and dolphins beaching or getting injured. Somehow, they all lead back to human involvement. From my cynical standpoint, the only real way to fix this sort of problem is to prove these animals can cure cancer or AIDS! Humans are not part of "nature", therefore we destroy it with our need for the unnatural (i.e., houses, cars, computers, synthetic materials, etc.). Unfortunately, I'm just as guilty as everyone else!

Just my opinion, though.

Heyvenn (not verified)

at 00:50 on December 5th, 2008

I think the reason they are doing that is because they were cornered by a large group of predator ie killer whales maybe or they were chasing for their food and got into trouble.This is the law of nature eat or be eaten.

Milieunet

at 08:59 on December 5th, 2008

For the second time in only two weeks, a large group of long-finned pilot whales has died after stranding themselves in a rocky area known as Sandy Cape on the remote western coast of Tasmania, Australia. On November 29, more than 150 whales died, turning the waters of the Indian Ocean red when they suffered deep cuts after being battered by rough surf and thrashing against jagged rocks.

http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2008-12/mass-whale-strandings-tasmania

munty13

at 11:46 on December 5th, 2008

I remember reading somewhere that military forces around the world are testing extra low frequencies (3 -30Hz). These frequencies are suspected of playing havoc with the sonar used by whales. http://www.rense.com/general11/tiss.htm

munty13

at 12:06 on December 5th, 2008

The plot sickens...http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1491449.htm

MsLaReina

at 13:24 on December 7th, 2008

Someone must give the humanitarians the means! And its a tax deduction as well, folks...

ured1975

at 13:42 on December 7th, 2008

more pictures at www.flickr.com/pacocanker

ured1975 has contributed a photo to this story.

Kristie Mansfield (not verified)

at 21:46 on December 11th, 2008

Large numbers of dolphins and whales beaching themselves has been caused by submarine high frequency sonar mapping the ocean terrain. Apparently it damages their ears and is very painful.