A mass stranding of fourteen young sperm whales in Tasmania, Australia, has claimed their lives.
On King Island, villagers found the whale carcasses on Monday afternoon and reported them to the authorities. Wildlife biologists and a veterinarian have been dispatched to look into the reason for the stranding even though it is unknown.
Experts claim that Tasmania is a “hotspot” for whale strandings and that they occur there frequently.
A spokesperson for the state government stated that an aerial survey will assess whether other animals are stuck in the region.
Sperm whales can exceed 18 metres in length and 45 tonnes in weight. They are classified as vulnerable species worldwide.
A “bachelor pod,” or a group of young male whales, got into difficulty, according to wildlife expert Vanessa Pirotta. The dead whales were likely a part of that group.
According to Dr. Pirotta, sperm whales spend much of their time in areas farther offshore and are similar to “deep-diving buses.”
We still don’t fully understand why whale strandings occur, she told the BBC.
She went on to speculate that the whales may have “misnavigated,” followed an ill or confused leader, or been shocked into shallower waters.
