14 DAY TRIAL // An impressive group of 64 long-finned whales was discovered stranded on Sunday, on Tasmania's northwest coast, occupying a large portion of Anthony's Beach. Wildlife experts worked around the clock throughout the day, and managed to save 12 whales, by hauling them via trailers to Godfrey's Beach, some 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) away. During the complicated operations, one of the whales died, so authorities managed to only release 11.
Five of the saved whales received global positioning system (GPS) transmitters, which allowed Australian environmentalists to track them throughout Sunday and into Monday. They discovered that the group was swimming safely, a long-distance off-shore, and concluded that their chances of survival were very good. The reason why so many of them could be saved, experts say, is their small size, of about 5 meters (16 feet) in length, which allowed the rescuers to fit them into trailers and haul them safely.
"We have successfully released 11 animals out to sea. They will form a small pod. We have given them the best chance they have got. We have had a reasonable outcome," Tasmanian state parks and wildlife service regional officer, Chris Arthur, told Reuters. "These units have told us that the animals did all join up again even though they were released in a three hour period and their survival prospects are very good." added Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries spokeswomen, Rosemary Gales, during a local press conference.
As of yet, marine wildlife experts have no idea as to why whales get stranded on the beaches of Tasmania. This type of events occur almost yearly, and environmental groups, such as Greenpeace, say that man-caused pollution and sonic disturbances are the main reason why whales lose their way.
The animals that were left behind on the beaches are to be analyzed by scientists both in Australia and Tasmania, in an attempt to find out exactly what affected them to such an extent. In the meantime, locals will organize a mass-burial, for the 53 whales that didn't make it.