The Borneo Post

Only six pilot whales survived after mass stranding in Australia

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MELBOURNE: All but six of more than 150 short-finned pilot whales that stranded themselves on a beach in Western Australia have died, despite efforts from authoritie­s and local beachgoers to save them, officials said on Saturday.

The marine mammals stranded themselves in Hamelin Bay, 315 km south of the state’s capital, Perth, between March 22 and 23.

Authoritie­s, veterinari­ans and locals who were visiting the beach attempted to save 15 of the migrating cetaceans in shallow waters, however only seven were able to successful­ly be placed back in the water.

A spokeswoma­n from Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversi­ty, Conservati­on and Attraction­s said one whale beached itself again and had to be euthanised. So far, the remaining six whales appear to have survived although incident controller Jeremy Chick said they could attempt to beach themselves at another location.

Pilot whales, which are part of the dolphin family, weigh between one and four tons each, providing a logistical challenge to local authoritie­s, who are now working on disposing of the carcasses.

While whales regularly get stranded on the coastal strip migrating between Antarctic feeding grounds in the south and warmer northern waters where they raise their young, the large number this time is unusual.

There was a previously recorded mass stranding in 1996, when 320 long-finned pilot whales stranded themselves just north of Hamelin Bay and died.

Locals and tourists have been warned to stay out of the water due to a likely increase in sharks attracted by the dead whales. The beach has been temporaril­y closed while authoritie­s dispose of the deceased whales. — Reuters

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