‘Confronting’: 34 pilot whales found dead on Freycinet Peninsula beach

Over 30 pilot whales, including calves, have been found dead on an East coast beach – with a local guide sharing he’d never seen anything like the “confronting” scene. Warning: Disturbing

Chris Theobald was confronted when he saw a pod of 30 pilot whales dead on Bryans Beach on the Freycinet Peninsula. Picture: Chris Theobald

A pod of 34 pilot whales have been found dead on a beach on the East Coast.

The whales, which include some calves, were found dead on Bryans Beach on the Freycinet Peninsula on Tuesday.

Local guide, photographer and conservationist Chris Theobald said it was a confronting moment when he came across the dead whales.

“You could see them from a distance and I was informed by another captain out here that there were some dead whales out there,” he said.

“I’ve been a guide for 17 years around the world, mostly tracking rare and wild cats so [for] me being an animal lover, it was extremely confronting.

“When it comes to sea life, I’ve never seen a mass stranding like this.”

Some of the pilot whales found on the beach. Picture: Chris Theobald

He said the whales had become stranded on Tuesday.

“I was up close in person, I jumped off the boat, in my wetsuit had my camera gear in a dry pack, and just went close because it was just so confronting to see a bunch of dead whales up close and personal on the beach.”

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania’s Marine Conservation Program officials are attending the beach following the reports.

“Thirty-four deceased pilot whales were found towards the southern end of the peninsula. Staff, including a wildlife veterinarian, are on site today to assess the situation and sample and measure the carcasses,” a spokesperson said.

“It is not known why the whales stranded and is often not possible to determine. Pilot whale strandings are not uncommon in Tasmania.

“Members of the public are asked to keep their distance and to report stranded whales or dolphins to the whale hotline on 0427 WHALES (0427 942 537).”

Marine scientists still don't understand why whales beach themselves.

It comes as nearly 200 stranded pilot whales died on the West Coast last year.

A pod of about 230 pilot whales were stranded on Ocean Beach near Strahan.

Marine conservationists saved about 35 whales during rescue efforts.

In 2020, Tasmania had the worst mass stranding of whales on record in Australia when 470 long-finned pilot whales were found beached or trapped in Macquarie Heads and Ocean Beach.