Marine experts have given up hope of rescuing 157 false killer whales that stranded on a remote Australian beach.

After 157 false killer whales were stranded on a Tasmanian beach, experts said only 90 have survived. Following a few failed "refloating" attempts to return the whales to the sea, the remaining survivors are expected to be euthanized.

Department liaison officer Brendon Clark said the stranding was the first by false killer whales in Tasmania in since 1974. That was a pod of more than 160 whales that landed on a beach near Stanley on the northwest coast. Strandings in Tasmania are usually pilot whales.