Whales die in Australian island

MORE than 100 whales and dolphins died after swimming onto a beach on a southern Australian island yesterday and another 50 were at risk, a government official said.

Wildlife officers were headed for King Island between the Australian mainland and the south-east island state of Tasmania to help rescue efforts.

Initial reports said 72 pilot whales and 30 bottlenose dolphins died after beaching themselves at Sea Elephant Bay, said Tasmanian government environment spokes-man Warwick Brennan.