157 dolphins found mysteriously stranded in Australia

(CLO) A pod of dolphins was found stranded on a remote beach in Australia's Tasmania. Authorities have yet to determine why this phenomenon occurred.

Initially, about 136 were still alive, but officials warned that returning them to the ocean would be extremely difficult. By the end of the day, only 90 individuals had survived the incident.

According to the Tasmanian Department of Environment and Natural Resources, a total of 157 dolphins were washed ashore. Marine biologists and veterinarians were quickly on the scene to assist with the rescue effort. However, the remote and difficult-to-reach terrain made it difficult to deploy rescue equipment.

It is still unclear what caused the pod of dolphins to become stranded. They were found on an isolated beach about 400km from the capital Hobart. Also known as false killer whales, the dolphins can grow up to 6.1m long and weigh up to 1,361kg. They are so named because of their resemblance to killer whales.

Stranded fish on the west coast of Tasmania. (Photo: Tasmanian Marine Conservation Program)

Tasmanian wildlife officer Brendon Clark said returning the dolphins to the sea was a huge challenge due to their size and weight.

He also noted that while whale strandings are not uncommon in Australia, this part of Tasmania has not seen a similar incident in decades.

"These are migratory animals, they move through many seas around the world. Why they are stranded for the first time in 50 years, we still have no answer," he added.

By Wednesday evening, officials said the surviving dolphins would likely be euthanized after hours of exposure to the sun and strong winds.

The largest mass stranding in Australia’s history occurred in 2020, when 470 long-finned pilot whales became stranded in Macquarie Harbour. Two years later, in 2022, about 230 pilot whales were stranded in the same location, most of whom died.

Last year, about 160 pilot whales stranded on a beach in Western Australia, many of them died. More than 100 others were euthanized to avoid further suffering.

Ha Trang (according to DW)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/phat-hien-157-con-ca-heo-dong-loat-mac-can-bi-an-o-uc-post335263.html