Department liaison officer Brendon Clark said the stranding was the first by false killer whales in Tasmania in since 1974. That was a pod of more than 160 whales that landed on a beach near Stanley on the northwest coast. Strandings in Tasmania are usually pilot whales.

Authorities say 90 false killer whales will be euthanased following unsuccessful refloating attempts. It follows the mass-stranding of a group of more than 150 false killer whales near Arthur River in Tasmania.

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service have responded to a mass whale stranding on the state’s West Coast near Arthur River.