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20 australia beached whales seismic testing { December 28 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11796662%255E421,00.html http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11796662%255E421,00.html Tragedy as 20 whales die in stranding By Linda Smith December 28, 2004 TWENTY sperm whales are dead after a stranding near Strahan, on Tasmania's west coast, yesterday. The Parks and Wildlife Service was notified by a caller at 9.30am of 20 whales stranded at Little Henty River. At least one was believed to be alive. However, when senior ranger Chris Arthur arrived, he found only four female whales on the beach and all were dead. He said it was highly likely that rough weather and gusting winds of up to 57km/h would have taken the other 16 whales back out to sea. All of the whales were washed back into the beach last night and found to be dead. Mr Arthur said the sperm whale carcasses could hit yachts competing in the Melbourne-Hobart yacht race if they were washed out to sea again. "The carcasses have the potential to run into a boat. The situation poses an issue for the yachts," Mr Arthur said. The Nature Conservation Branch will arrive in Strahan today to take samples and do tests on the whales. This latest stranding comes less than a month after two other mass whale strandings. Late last month a pod of 53 pilot whales beached themselves at Maria Island less than a day after 97 pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins died on King Island. Tasmania has by far the most whale strandings in the country, with around 80 per cent of Australia's total. The rugged west coast is also a hotspot for such events. In June four sperm whales died after beaching themselves at Ocean Beach, Strahan, while another was rescued. In November 2003 more than 100 pilot whales and 20 bottlenose dolphins were found dead in a rocky shallow bay opposite Hibbs Pyramid, about 50km south of Strahan, and in 1998 62 sperm whales died after becoming stranded at Ocean Beach. Tasmanian research released earlier this year linked whale strandings to weather patterns. Other experts believe strandings could be linked to seismic testing. Whale sightings and strandings should be reported to 0427 942 537, or 0427 WHALES. The Mercury

115 whales dolphins die after beaching 169 whales and dolphins beached new zealand { November 30 2004 } 20 australia beached whales seismic testing { December 28 2004 } Beached 11 29 2004 [jpg] Beached 12 28 2004 [jpg] Beached whales all females { December 28 2004 } Explosive sound impulses survey ocean floor Hundreds dolphins found dead off east africa { March 2006 } More tassie whales strandings { December 28 2004 } Seismic testing summaries { November 30 2004 } Whales beached could be seismic testing { December 5 2004 } Whales stranded seismic testing [htm] Files Listed: 12

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