More than a dozen sperm whales have been discovered beached on an island off the southeastern coast of Australia.
The carcasses of the 14 younger males have been found on Monday afternoon on King Island, a part of Tasmania within the Bass Strait, the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment stated.
Images confirmed the whales mendacity on their sides in shallow water on the rocky shore of the island.
Wildlife authorities are investigating the stranding and reason for loss of life.
“It is possible the whales were part of the same bachelor pod – a group of younger male sperm whales associating together after leaving the maternal group,” a division spokesperson stated.
Surfers and swimmers have been warned to keep away from the quick space in case the useless whales entice sharks.
The division stated it’s not uncommon for sperm whales to be sighted in Tasmania, including the world through which they have been found was inside their regular vary and habitat.
An aerial survey is deliberate to search out out whether or not there are some other whales within the space.
The largest mass stranding on report in Australia was two years in the past, when about 470 long-finned pilot whales have been discovered beached off Tasmania’s west coast.
After a week-long effort, 111 whales have been rescued, however the remaining died.
Source: information.sky.com”