SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA) – Australian officials on Thursday have planned the disposal of almost 400 whale carcasses as the reality blurred hopes that there would be many more survivors from the recent mass strandings of the mammals.
Rescuers had managed to rescue around 70 long-finned pilot whales stranded off by Thursday afternoon. The majority of those freed had went into deeper water, officials said. However, the euthanisation of four were likely to be done and others might return when the tide turns.
The remaining 20 whales were still struggling in shallow water on a wide sandbank.
Nic Deka, the incident controller for the state government’s Parks and Wildlife Service, said, “Beyond the next 24 hours, any remaining animals that are alive will be less viable.”
As result, authorities were plan to dispose of at least 380 whales at sea, an operation that Deka said could take days.
Deka said, “Our preference is for disposal at sea, we’re still taking expert advice as to exactly where the drop off point may be.”
“Dealing with over 400 dead whales is a real problem,” said Vanessa Pirotta, a marine scientist at the Macquarie University. “(It) would have to be very far out.”
A rescue team of more than 60 government scientists and volunteers had rushed to the remote location.