Four Whales Stranded in Tasmanian Harbour

Rescue teams work to save a Pilot Whale at Macquarie Harbour in Strahan, Tasmania, Australia on Sept. 24, 2020. (Steve Bell/Getty Images)

A small pod of pilot whales has become stranded in Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania’s rugged west coast, only weeks after a mass stranding in the same harbour left hundreds dead.

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment are responding to reports a large pilot whale became stuck in the harbour near Strahan on Saturday afternoon.

Three smaller pilot whales, which were swimming with the large whale before it became stranded, also remain in the harbour.

The whales appear to be healthy and should be returned to sea on Sunday, wildlife biologist Sam Thalmann says.

“The harbour is a large, complex marine environment, with very dark waters and an intricate shoreline making detection of these whales difficult. However, once the whales are stabilised, we will make all efforts today to move these whales back out to sea,” he said in a statement.

A pilot whale, one of at least 380 stranded that have died, is seen washed up in Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania's west coast on Sept. 24, 2020. (Mell Chun /AFP via Getty Images)

About 470 long-finned pilot whales were found beached on sandbars at Macquarie Harbour in late September—the biggest mass stranding on record in Australia.

After a week-long rescue effort, only 111 could be saved, leaving authorities the gruesome task of disposing of more than 350 carcasses.

By Tiffanie Turnbull