Locals have been urged to stay away from a beach near Albany after an unusually large pod of whales became stranded.
The large pod was spotted in a closely packed group on Monday evening and remained huddled together on Tuesday morning in a formation labelled “unusual”.
A video posted to the Cheynes Beach Caravan Park shows the pod of pilot whales has now become stranded on Cheynes Beach, about 55 minutes from Albany.
“Sad news, the pilot whales have stranded themselves,” the post said.
In a post on Facebook at 4.45pm, the Department of Parks and Wildlife confirmed about 60-70 long-finned pilot whales had begun to strand on Cheynes Beach.
“DBCA (is) leading a response and managing the incident,” the update read.
“We understand the public’s concern at this time and appreciate the offers of support from volunteers.
“However, the safety of the public and the whales are our main priority, so we ask that members of the public do not approach the beach.”
Earlier today, Cheynes Beach Caravan Park owner Joanne Marsh said the large pod was unlike anything she had seen in her 23 years of living in the area.
She labelled the behaviour “completely unusual”, having first noticed it on Monday evening without realising the size of the pod.
“At around dusk I saw it in the bay and knew it was whales but I didn’t realise from where I was standing what they were,” she said.
Every year, about 2000 whales beach themselves around the world. Toothed whales rather than baleen whales or more likely to be involved in strandings.
Significant mass strandings off WA include:
- 1986: Flinders Bay Augusta — more than a hundred false killer whales.
- 1996: 320 long-finned whales became beached in WA’s largest stranding.
- 2009: Hamelin Bay — pilot whales.
- 2005: Busselton Beach — false killer whales.
- 2018: Hamelin Bay — about 150 short-finned and long-finned pilot whales. Only four of the whales survived.
While there has been no definitive reason given for whales to beach themselves, climate change, and naval sonar have been linked to the event.
To assist with the stranding call DBCA Albany to register on (08) 9842 4500.
More to come. . .