A pilot whale that was beached on the east coast of King Island, in the Bass Strait between Victoria and Tasmania, has been euthanised.

The long-finned pilot whale was discovered at Sea Elephant Bay and reported to the Parks and Wildlife Service on Sunday.

Parks and Wildlife Service staff and volunteers tried to rescue the whale on Monday and managed to move it "by trailer south to an appropriate location for release".

The whale was "held in shallow water until deemed suitable for release", however, the situation turned bleak as the day marched on.

"PWS staff and volunteers assisted the whale stranded at King Island today with the intent to release," a spokesperson said.

"Unfortunately the condition of the whale beached on King Island deteriorated.

"PWS would like to thank the volunteers and staff for their efforts."

The incident come a week after a tragic mass stranding of pilot whales on the West Coast of mainland Tasmania.

Most of the 470 stranded whales perished, however, rescuers managed to help 110 creatures get offshore.

King Island has raced to save stranded whales in the many, particularly in 2009 when almost 200 were stranded on Naracoopa beach.

Former King Island general manager Andrew Wardlaw remembers that day and said it was "quite significant".

"Over the years there's been the odd sperm whale or something come ashore but I don't think we'd ever seen a a mass stranding like that," he said.

"I'd imagine at the time there were in excess of 100 people in the community supporting the efforts the best they could. So the response from the community was quite significant.

"At the time they did end up burying the carcasses in the back dune."

UPDATED, 1pm:

A beached whale discovered on King Island, in the Bass Strait between Victoria and Tasmania, has been moved into shallow water ahead of a planned release.

The long finned pilot whale was found in Sea Elephant Bay on the east coast and reported to the Parks and Wildlife Service on Sunday.

A PWS spokesperson said the whale's health was "being monitored".

"It has been successfully moved by trailer south to an appropriate location for release," they said.

"The whale will be held in shallow water until deemed suitable for release.

"A number of staff and volunteers are assisting and no more are required at this stage."

EARLIER, 11am:

A beached pilot whale has been discovered on the east coast of King Island.

The creature was found several kilometres north of the tiny island community of Naracoopa over the weekend.

A Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson said on Sunday night the whale was found alive.

"PWS staff and volunteers are working to release it back into deeper waters," they said.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The rescue operation comes just days after a tragic mass stranding of pilot whales on the West Coast of mainland Tasmania.

Most of the 470 whales stranded perished, however, the rescuers managed to help 110 creatures get offshore.

This isn't the first time the Naracoopa community has dealt with a stranding event.

Back in 2009, rescuers raced to save almost 200 pilot whales and five bottlenose dolphins stranded on Naracoopa beach.

About 100 people assisted in the rescue effort including two Parks and Wildlife Rangers.