Researches taking samples to learn more after five sperm whales died on Flinders Island this week
A remote beach will remain closed following the death of five sperm whales that beached on Flinders Island. What researchers hope to uncover with samples from the carcasses.
Tasmania
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A better understanding of whale strandings could be a silver lining after five sperm whales died at Flinders Island this week.
Researchers will collect “valuable samples” from the carcasses of the whales in order to study the species and why they strand.
The Marine Conservation Program (MCP) and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) had responded to the report of a stranding at Marshall Bay Beach on the north west coast of Flinders Island on Monday.
According to the Department of Natural Resource Management (NRE Tas), the whales were first reported to the MCP on Sunday night by a member of the public.
Three of the whales were dead when crews from Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and the MCP got to Marshall Bay Beach on Monday to inspect the situation.
The remaining two whales died overnight on Monday after being provided palliative care from the crews.
“PWS staff will collect valuable samples to enable research to better understand the species and why they strand,” a NRE spokeswoman said.
Sightings of whales and dolphins in Tasmania should be reported to 0427 WHALES (0427 942 537).
The beach remains closed until further notice and the Flinders Island Council posted a warning for residents following the stranding.
“Whales are a protected species, even once deceased, and it is an offence to interfere with a carcass,” the post read.
The post also advised people to be cautious in the water in the area, as there may be an increased shark presence “for a period of time”.
Tasmania is a whale stranding hot spot.
In 2020, about 400 pilot whales stranded themselves at Macquarie Harbour on the West Coast in what was the largest whale stranding in Australia’s history.
Two years later to the day another 230 whales of the same species beached themselves in the same spot.
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Originally published as Researches taking samples to learn more after five sperm whales died on Flinders Island this week
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