Few survivors from mass whale stranding in Tasmania

[depakid]

More than 40 sperm whales have died after a pod of about 50 became stranded off southern Australia, an official said Friday as rescuers struggled to reach the survivors.

By the time the pod, which is trapped on a sandbar 150 metres offshore from Perkins Island on the north-west coast of the island state of Tasmania, was discovered late Thursday most had perished.

"They think that there may be seven or eight that are alive," spokeswoman for Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Services Liz Wren told AFP.

Wren said rescue options would be difficult because of the massive size of the animals and the fact that the pod was accessible only by water.

"The males are as big as 18 metres, females 12 metres, weighing in between 20 and 50 tonnes," she said.

She said while rescuers had been able to save some long-finned pilot whales after another mass stranding on a Tasmanian beach in November "sperm whales are an entirely different kettle of fish and much more difficult".

More: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/whale-watch/mass-whale-stranding-few-survivors/2009/01/23/1232471560042.html

[patrice]

1. : - ((((((((((((((((((((

no words . . .

[Jamastiene]

2. ...

:cry:

[jwirr]

3. How does this fit into the idea that our sonar signals is what has been

killing the whales?

[navarth]

4. human activity is at the bottom of it somehow. can there be any doubt?

This sickens me. These noble, innocent creatures swimming in an ocean we keep dumping poison into. This is one of those times that I'm ashamed of my species, once again.

[depakid]

5. No one really knows

Strandings like this aren't uncommon off southern Australia- and interference with echo-location is one of the theories.

Here's an image the last sperm whale stranding in 2002.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/media/ALeqM5jftNvWW4BtVVWakyxKijFiS6ijJg?size=m

[applegrove]

6. Aw that is terrible.