Dozens of Whales Die in Stranding on Australia Beach
David Southwell
NEWS.com.au
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Australia Hobart (Tasmania):
After two days of desperate effort rescuers have saved 18 whales but over 130 have died in mass strandings on southern Tasmanian beaches.Battling rough surf and strong winds rescuers managed to save eight pilot whales at the southern end of Marion Bay, east of Hobart today.Yesterday 70 whales had beached at the southern and northern end of Marion Bay and rescuers had returned 10 animals to the water and were departing by boat when more whales began stranding at dusk.On returning today rescuers found a further 70 of the animals, which grow up to 5m in length, had beached. Only 14 were still alive and rescuers were able to return 8 to the water.
More than 130 animals were left dead on the beach. Rescues were accomplished by rolling the animals onto mats dragging them back into the water where rescuers would often swim alongside the whales making noise to prevent them from steering back into shore.
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Navy Denies Role in Whale Strandings
Advertiser Adelaide, Australia
The navy has denied two of its ships may have contributed to two mass whale strandings in Tasmania.Up to 130 long-finned pilot whales died after being found beached at Marion Bay, east of Hobart, early yesterday and early today, said Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service. The Royal Australian Navy said two Huon class mine countermeasure vessels, HMAS Diamantina and HMAS Huon, were operating in North Bay, south of Marion Bay, between 4pm (AEDT) yesterday and 12pm today.Greens Senator Christine Milne said the ships were seen near Marion Bay after the second stranding occurred. She said post mortems on the dead whales should examine whether sonar signals from the ships may have contributed to the strandings.
Oct 26, 2005
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Ms Wren said there were considerable dangers involved with whale rescue."These are big heavy animals, with big tails and fins. They easily can roll over onto rescuers and cause injuries."The rescue teams were a mixture of wildlife rangers, marine biologists, SES and volunteers.Police had provided the boats.Tasmania had one of the highest occurrences of whale beachings in the world.
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For further reading:
Why Whales Strand!
Stranded Whales
Whale stranding cases 'increase'
_____________________
Oct 26, 2005
David SouthwellNEWS.com.au
____________
Australia Hobart (Tasmania):
After two days of desperate effort rescuers have saved 18 whales but over 130 have died in mass strandings on southern Tasmanian beaches.Battling rough surf and strong winds rescuers managed to save eight pilot whales at the southern end of Marion Bay, east of Hobart today.Yesterday 70 whales had beached at the southern and northern end of Marion Bay and rescuers had returned 10 animals to the water and were departing by boat when more whales began stranding at dusk.On returning today rescuers found a further 70 of the animals, which grow up to 5m in length, had beached. Only 14 were still alive and rescuers were able to return 8 to the water.
More than 130 animals were left dead on the beach. Rescues were accomplished by rolling the animals onto mats dragging them back into the water where rescuers would often swim alongside the whales making noise to prevent them from steering back into shore.
____________________________________________________
Navy Denies Role in Whale Strandings
Advertiser Adelaide, Australia
The navy has denied two of its ships may have contributed to two mass whale strandings in Tasmania.Up to 130 long-finned pilot whales died after being found beached at Marion Bay, east of Hobart, early yesterday and early today, said Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service. The Royal Australian Navy said two Huon class mine countermeasure vessels, HMAS Diamantina and HMAS Huon, were operating in North Bay, south of Marion Bay, between 4pm (AEDT) yesterday and 12pm today.Greens Senator Christine Milne said the ships were seen near Marion Bay after the second stranding occurred. She said post mortems on the dead whales should examine whether sonar signals from the ships may have contributed to the strandings.
Oct 26, 2005
_____________________________________________________
Ms Wren said there were considerable dangers involved with whale rescue."These are big heavy animals, with big tails and fins. They easily can roll over onto rescuers and cause injuries."The rescue teams were a mixture of wildlife rangers, marine biologists, SES and volunteers.Police had provided the boats.Tasmania had one of the highest occurrences of whale beachings in the world.
_____________________
For further reading:
Why Whales Strand!
Stranded Whales
Whale stranding cases 'increase'
_____________________
Oct 26, 2005
