MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — More than 150 false killer whales are stranded on a remote beach on Australia’s island state of Tasmania, officials said on Wednesday. Marine experts including veterinarians were at the scene near Arthur River on Tasmania’s northwest coast, a Department of Natural Resources and Environment statement said.

The animals appear to be false killer whales, according to Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service have responded to a mass whale stranding on the state’s West Coast near Arthur River.

More than 150 suspected false killer whales have become stranded on a beach in Tasmania's far north-west. Tasmania's Department of Natural Resources and Environment confirmed the whale stranding, saying 157 of what appeared to be false killer whales were stranded on a beach near Arthur River.

The whales can weigh anywhere between 500kg to 3,000kg and some had sunk into the sand where they were stranded.

Australian wildlife officers have made the difficult decision to euthanize 90 false killer whales stranded on a remote beach in Tasmania, after rough ocean conditions made it impossible to refloat them.

More than 150 false killer whales washed ashore on a beach in Tasmania’s far north-west on Wednesday, February 19. According to the Marine Conservation Program of the Tasmanian Government, initial observations showed 90 whales were still alive after a pod of 157 were stranded on the state’s west coast near Arthur River.

The group of 157 whales were first spotted by locals near Arthur River, south of Marrawah, on Tasmania's west coast on Tuesday.