Ocean Sentry
Only one of the 54 pilot whales freed from King Island”s Naracoopa Beach in Tasmania yesterday has returned to the sand.
The animal has been moved to another part of the beach and is being kept alive by volunteers until the incoming tide helps with a fresh rescue effort. “At this stage it appears all the others have stayed at sea,” King Island Council general manager Andrew Wardlaw said this morning.
“The last stranded whale is healthy. Everyone put in a great effort yesterday and the council is in discussions with the State Government today to work out the best strategy for dealing with the 120 carcasses on the beach.”
Some of the carcases were washed out to sea on yesterday afternoon’s high tide.
Parks and Wildlife senior ranger Chris Arthur said a flight off King island this morning confirmed the rescued whales were now swimming in deep water.
“It has been a great result. We have stablised the whale which came back to the beach and are waiting for a change in the weather this afternoon to see if the animal is strong enough and the conditions are right for another rescue effort to be made,” Mr Arthur said.
The 54 survivors were sent back to sea late yesterday afternoon after hours of lifesaving work by volunteers and Parks and Wildlife professionals.
Several staff kept watch overnight amid hopes that the animals would not re-beach.
Nearly 200 whales and a handful of accompanying dolphins stranded on the beach on Sunday. About 140 died in the course of Sunday night and yesterday morning.
(From news.com.au, Tasmania)
