Over 150 false killer whales have been found stranded on an Australian beach on Wednesday, local authorities stated.

Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment said 90 of a pod of 157 animals were still alive at the site near Arthur River, in the island’s northwest.

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Officer Brendon Clark told a news conference that it was the first mass stranding of false killer whales in the area in about 50 years.

“Our mass stranding events usually involve pilot whales. At this stage, we do not know why these animals have stranded,’’ Mr Clark added.

Wildlife teams were at the scene and were assessing animal welfare and options for rescue.

“However, initial assessments indicate that refloating the whales will be difficult due to the inaccessibility of the site, ocean conditions, and the challenges of getting specialised equipment to the remote area,’’ Mr Clark said.

While there had been good success rates at previous whale stranding events, environmental and access challenges “mean we are unlikely to be able to use those same rescue techniques,’’ he said.

The last false killer whale mass stranding in Tasmania occurred in June 1974, involving a pod of 160 to 170 animals, Mr Clark said.

In spite of its name, the animal is a species of dolphin that can weigh from 500 kilogrammes to three tonnes and up to six metres in length.

(dpa/NAN)