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At least 14 sperm whales have perished after becoming stranded on King Island, off the northwestern coast of Tasmania.
According to Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the whales beached on Monday.
At least 14 sperm whales that came ashore on King Island have perished.
Monday, the whales were trapped in a local fishing area off the west coast of the island.
Tuesday, the department verified the discovery of fourteen whale carcasses at a local fishing location.
A plane is expected to fly over the island to search for further whales on the shore.
Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife expert, stated that the source of the strandings remained a “total mystery.”
“We simply do not understand why this occurs,” she told ABC.
This is the million-dollar question whenever an event of this nature occurs.
The stranding, according to Dr. Pirotta, could have been caused by a navigational error or by the group following a whale onto the beach.
The department stated that sightings of sperm whales in the vicinity were not uncommon.
The west shore of King Island is off-limits to swimmers and surfers because whale carcasses may attract sharks.
The Australian Daily Mail has contacted the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
According to Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the whales were young males.
It is uncertain why the whales beached, but a navigational error is a possibility.
The agency stated that sightings of sperm whales off the coast of King Island were not uncommon.