<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Fourteen young sperm whales have died in a mass stranding on a beach in Tasmania, Australia</b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The whale carcasses were discovered by locals on King Island and reported to authorities on Monday afternoon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The reason for the stranding is unknown, but wildlife biologists and a vet have been sent to investigate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whale strandings are not uncommon in Tasmania - experts say the island state is a "hotspot" for such events.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">An aerial survey will determine whether more animals are stranded in the area, a state government spokesperson said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sperm whales, which are considered vulnerable globally, can grow up to 18m and weigh up to 45 tonnes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta said the dead whales were probably part of a "bachelor pod" - a group of juvenile male whales - that ran into trouble.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sperm whales are like "deep-diving buses" and typically spend time in waters further offshore, Dr Pirotta said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"All whale strandings remain a mystery. We don't exactly know why they happen," she told the BBC.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The whales may have "misnavigated", followed a sick or disoriented leader, or been startled into shallower waters, she added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In September 2020, more than 380 pilot whales died in Australia's worst mass stranding. It was also in Tasmania - at Macquarie Heads on the island's west coast.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Though the cause remains unknown, Dr Pirotta notes Tasmania has "a lot of different currents intersecting with land". Source: BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>