A species of whale rarely seen in Tasmania found dead at Clifton Beach earlier this week had injuries consistent with a ship strike, the Marine Conservation Program has confirmed.
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The MCP has concluded investigations on a number of stranded whales found over the past month.
While reports of deceased whales at various times is not unusual, an MCP spokesperson said some animals became stranded due to illness or other causes. Others die at sea and later wash ashore.
Earlier this week a Cuvier's beaked whale, a rarely-seen species in Tasmania, was found at Clifton Beach in the state's South.
A necropsy found the whale had injuries consistent with being struck by a ship.
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Meanwhile, the necropsy results from a female pilot whale found stranded at Cloudy Bay on Bruny Island at the weekend suggest the stranding was a result of complications and an infection associated with a pregnancy.
MCP biologists also assessed a juvenile humpback whale found deceased on Schouten Island last month as being clearly emaciated.
"As the humpback whale population increases, it is not unusual to see a number of juvenile humpbacks strand in poor condition each season, a sad but natural occurrence," the spokesperson said.
Investigations of the three recent strandings have indicated they are not related.
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
