Sri Lanka, Feb. 19 -- Australian wildlife officers have euthanized 90 false killer whales stranded on a remote beach in Tasmania, after rough ocean conditions made rescue efforts impossible.

More than 150 whales were found stranded near the Arthur River on the island's west coast late Tuesday, according to Tasmania's Department of Natural Resources and Environment. By Wednesday morning, only 90 were still alive. Attempts to refloat two whales failed, as strong winds and rough seas forced them back to shore.

"It's quite rough, and the animals just can't get past the break to get out. They just keep turning around and coming back towards the beach," said Shelley Graham, incident controller with Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service.

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