Sea tragedy: One third of stranded whales die despite rescue bid

Around one third of an estimated 270 pilot whales that became stranded on Australia’s island state of Tasmania have died, with rescuers managing to return 25 to the sea in an ongoing operation.

The whales were discovered on Monday on a beach and two sand bars near the west coast town of Strahan. Sixty people have joined the rescue effort.

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Manager Nic Deka said yesterday afternoon: “We’ve rescued about 25 at the present time and escorted them out the channel and out to sea.”

Wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon warned that progress would be slow. “We’ll take the animals with the best chance to start with and the ones that we are able to deal with,” he said.