Death wish: Scientists hope for some key learnings after 100 whales perish on quiet beach
Scientists hope to learn valuable information about whale genetics and behaviour after close to 100 animals perished in a stranding incident on a West Australian beach.
Volunteers working to keep a pod of long-finned pilot whales alive near Cheynes Beach east of Albany. Wildlife experts are preparing to lead dozens of whales back into deep waters after 52 died in a mass stranding event. (AAP Image/Supplied by WA Department of Biodiversity)
Fifty-two long-finned pilot whales initially died during a mass stranding event on Cheynes Beach, 60 kilometres east of Albany in the state’s south.
On Wednesday night wildlife authorities made the difficult decision to euthanise the surviving 45 after failed attempts to return them to deeper water.
Incident controller Peter Hartley said the 350 people involved in helping the animals, including about 250 volunteers, did everything they could.
“We know whale strandings are a natural phenomenon. But we gave it a good go,” Mr Hartley said.
“Spending the whole day in the water with those animals to give them the best opportunity.
“This is nature. It’s a natural phenomenon we know very little about.”
Mr Hartley said the decision to euthanise the remaining whales was probably one of the hardest in his 34 years in wildlife management.
He said a number of samples had been taken to check on the genetics of the animals, including whether or not they were all related.
Scientists from around the world had also been in contact to get access to the video of the stranding.
“Hopefully we get some really good learnings,” he said.
The incident prompted a huge response from volunteers including those with small boats and surf skis joining the rescue.
The whale pod was first spotted swimming perilously close to the shore on Tuesday afternoon before a number began beaching themselves.
Wildlife experts speculated the unusual behaviour could be an indicator of stress or illness.
Macquarie University wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta said the reason the whales stranded themselves was a mystery.
“The fact they were in one area, very huddled and doing really interesting behaviours and looking around at times, suggests something else is going on that we just don’t know,” she told AAP.
A whale might have been sick or the pod might have become disorientated but it was unlikely they were trying to avoid predators, Dr Pirotta said.
Mr Hartley thanked all those who took part in the attempts to save the whales, despite the tragic result.
“What I did observe yesterday was the very best of humanity,” he said.
“I just want to acknowledge and thank everyone who responded to that incident. Their efforts were enormous, the conditions were trying and the water was cold.”
