Hundreds Of Whales Wash Up On Beach After Nearly 200 Die In Mass Stranding Tragedy

Over 200 whales have died on a Tasmanian beach as a result of a huge stranding incident in Australia.

On Wednesday, the tragedy occurred on the second anniversary of the deadliest whale stranding in the country's history.

Image: AFP via Getty Images

400 whales of the same species died in it, which happened in Macquarie Harbour, also referred to as Hell's Gates.

Rescuers are currently battling time to save as many of the 35 remaining pilot whales as possible.

Image: AFP via Getty Images

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service regional operations manager Brendon Clark said: "Unfortunately, we do have a high mortality rate for this particular stranding – that's predominantly due to the exposed conditions out on Ocean Beach.”

"The environmental conditions, the surf out there on the exposed west coast, is certainly taking its toll on the animals."

Image: AFP via Getty Images

50 experts and other professionals are still working to help the stranded whales even though the situation is hopeless.

They added that they prioritized the whales who had the best chances of surviving at the start of the operation.

Image: Department of Natural Resources

Clark said: "The primary focus this morning is on rescuing and releasing the surviving animals."

The few survivors swam around on the beach and made noises like "squeaks" and "growls."

The whales are saved by being placed on huge mats and then transported back to the ocean in trailers.

Image: Department of Natural Resources

Additionally, rescuers must keep the whales under for the entire time.

However, the team is equipped with a mechanical hoist that makes some of the challenging tasks a little bit easier as they move the whales.

According to Kris Carlyon, operations manager for Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania's marine conservation program: "We're confident that it's going to help speed things up a bit and also to make sure we're managing fatigue.”

"We have animals that are essentially high and dry on the sand. These animals may weigh as much as 2.5 tonnes. They're big and they're heavy."

Rescuers have acknowledged that more whales would probably die despite their best efforts to save as many as they can.

"I think it's inevitable that we may lose a few more of these animals," Carlyon continued.

The sheer volume of deceased animals has been cited as making the task "difficult" and "confronting" for the rescuers.

To prevent a third mass stranding incident at the Hell's Gate beach in the future, conservationists have now stated that the proper steps must be taken.