Authorities have said that only 35 of the 230 pilot whales found stranded on Ocean Beach at Macquarie Harbour on Wednesday morning have survived, with efforts continuing to save the the surviving animals.
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The stranding comes two days after at least 14 sperm whales were found dead on King Island.
The mortality rate of the stranded whales eclipsed a similar event in 2020 at the same location.
Marine Conservation Program wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon expected there to be more deaths.
"I think it's inevitable that we may lose a few more of these animals that have been stranded for over 24 hours.
"We've got the team and a strategy in place now to maximise success.
"We'll be working hard all day to make sure we can save as many as possible."
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Regional Operations Manager Brendon Clark said crews spent Thursday dedicated to moving the remaining 35 alive whales to deeper waters.
"We've managed to refloat, rescue and release 32 of those animals.
"We still have three alive on the far northern end of Ocean Beach.
"But because of access restrictions, predominately tidal influences, we just haven't been able to access those three animals safely today, but they'll be our priority in the morning."
Mr Clark said two of the pilot whales that were released got stranded on the beach again.
"We have been able to attempt the same methodology and get them back into deeper water.
"Through protocols and processes, we are able to identify those that re-strand."
"At this stage they haven't come back for a second day, so lets hope that they're out into the deeper ocean."
Dr Carlyon said the cause of the stranding was unknown.
"What we do know is that we've seen multiple stranding events at this exact location - both with pilot whales...dolphins, sperm whales - in the past as well.
"Clearly, there's something with this environment that means it could act as a bit of a natural whale trap."
