Rescuers say the noise is the worst part. When whales are stranded on a beach, they keep calling to one another. Others will come in from safe water and join their dying pod. | EXPLAINER Cetacea whales tasmania stranded
APWhales can strand alone, often sick and unable to keep swimming. A sperm whale might wash up with a belly full of plastic. Or animals can strand in groups, as commonly happens with pilot whales and other orcas such as killer whales. The biggest on record involved more than 1000 pilot whales in New Zealand in 1918.from misadventure to navigation errors.
By the time the whales realise they have strayed too far, they are already trapped. "They don’t know where to go, or how to get out, they run out of water. They panic." 'They don’t have hands, they can’t roll themselves over. When the tide comes up, sometimes people have to move them so they can breathe.'
In Tasmania, about 60 rescuers have been working to "refloat" the animals off the beach and guide them out to deeper water using slings attached to the sides of boats. It’s a grim and often time-consuming task of triage awaiting rescuers on such a beach, Meynecke says.
Deka says: "Whenever we've got live animals that have a chance, and we have the resources, then we'll certainly give it a go." Meynecke said studies of the whales which chose to re-strand themselves do not always reveal a genetic connection between the animal left on the beach and the one that returned.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why the Government's loan law changes are 'a solution in search of a problem'The Government says its planned removal of responsible lending obligations will make it easier to get a loan, which is true. But it will also make it much easier for Australians, and Australia, to fall into a financial crisis, writes Michael Janda.
Read more »
Why Trent Dalton needed to ‘run a mile’ from his hit debut novelThe bestselling author says his new book, All Our Shimmering Skies, is the one he always wanted to write.
Read more »
Why do whales beach themselves?Rescuers say the noise is the worst part. When whales are stranded on a beach, they keep calling to one another. Others will come in from safe water and join their dying pod. | EXPLAINER Cetacea whales tasmania stranded
Read more »
Susan Carland: Why I'm savouring the 'lost lasts'Unlike the last day of kinder, 'lost' lasts are quieter; moments when I didn’t realise it was the last time. It just happened, then it never happened again | OPINION
Read more »
Why do whales beach themselves?Rescuers say the noise is the worst part. When whales are stranded on a beach, they keep calling to one another. Others will come in from safe water and join their dying pod. | EXPLAINER Cetacea whales tasmania stranded
Read more »
Locals fighting to save whale beached on Western Cape YorkLocals are trying to keep what is believed to be a six-metre-long Bryde's whale alive on a beach on Western Cape York, but an expert says they are likely fighting a losing battle.
Read more »