About 230 pilot whales have been found stranded on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia.
On 21 September, 2022 when they were found, half of the whales were believed to have died.
Whales can only survive for a couple of hours when beached and die because they cannot support their own weight when out of the water.
Just a few days ago,14 sperm whales were found beached on an island off the coast of Tasmania.
Rescue efforts are beginning in Tasmania to save the stranded pilot whales.
The rescuers poured water over the whales and were able to save 32 of them which were pushed into deeper water.
The dead whales were towed out to the middle of the sea and left to sink.
Mass beaching occurs because whales have a strong bond and more beach themselves when they hear the calls from a stranded pod member.
The worst case of mass beaching of pilot whales in Tasmania was in 2020 when 450 of them died.
photo credit: bbc
