Updated, 1:30pm Thursday: A sperm whale that became stranded at Turners Beach on Tasmania’s north-west coast has died, with a wildlife vet to examine the animal to try to find out why.
The whale was reported to the marine mammal hotline by a member of the public late yesterday and its death was confirmed in a Department of Natural Resources and Environment update at 1:20pm today.
“While this is a sad outcome, strandings occur for a range of reasons and wildlife deaths are a natural part of life in the marine environment,” an NRE spokesperson said.
The department said the whale was just over 10m long and weighed about 13 tonnes.
Department staff had been working with Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service staff to assess the whale and consider response options.
A specialist wildlife veterinarian will now take samples and examine the whale to try to determine the cause of death.
Earlier, the department said it was “unusual for a sperm whale of this size to strand alone” and that it would assess “whether the animal had been sick or injured before it stranded”.
Aerial surveillance of the coastline between Bridport and Stanley is also being carried out to check for any other stranded whales.
People are being asked to stay away from the area. The department said wildlife could carry disease and interfering with wildlife, including a carcass, was an offence.
It also said it was aware of AI-generated images on social media that did not depict this whale, and that sharing inaccurate images could make it harder for wildlife experts to determine whether another stranding had occurred.
Earlier: A large whale is stuck in shallow water off Turners Beach on Tasmania’s north-west coast.
Police and Parks and Wildlife staff are managing the situation and police are urging people to stay away.
Members of the public are asked to avoid the area and not to enter the water on the incoming tide.
Police said the warning was “due to the anticipated danger”.
Police said they would publish an update as soon as possible.
