130 whales die after stranding on beach

ABOUT 70 pilot whales died after becoming stranded on a remote beach in southern Australia, bringing the total to 130 over two days, a government official said yesterday.

Two groups of long-finned pilot whales beached themselves near Marion Bay on the southern island state of Tasmania early on Tuesday, according to Liz Wren, a spokeswoman for the state’s parks and wildlife service. Nearly 60 whales died and about 10 were rescued, she said.

A third pod of whales began beaching at dusk on Tuesday. “It was a new pod because the ones that were returned yesterday were tagged so we know that they didn’t re-strand,” Ms Wren said.