(The Guardian) Sperm whales die on King Island coast in mass stranding
At least 14 young male sperm whales have died in a mass stranding on King Island, wildlife authorities say.
The Tasmanian government is sending wildlife biologists and a vet to the island, in Bass Strait, to investigate and collect samples.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment’s marine conservation program would also conduct aerial surveys to see if there were other whales in the area, a spokesperson said. It is not unusual for sperm whales to be seen in the area, they said. -- It appears all 14 animals are young males and were dead at the time the stranding was reported on Monday afternoon. While further inquiries are yet to be carried out, 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.
At least 14 young male sperm whales have died in a mass stranding on King Island, wildlife authorities say.
The Tasmanian government is sending wildlife biologists and a vet to the island, in Bass Strait, to investigate and collect samples.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment’s marine conservation program would also conduct aerial surveys to see if there were other whales in the area, a spokesperson said. It is not unusual for sperm whales to be seen in the area, they said. -- It appears all 14 animals are young males and were dead at the time the stranding was reported on Monday afternoon. While further inquiries are yet to be carried out, 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.
