Rescue op launched to save beached whales and dolphins

More than 100 whales and dolphins died after swimming onto a beach on a southern Australian island today 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 local rescue efforts.

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

Up to 50 more whales and dolphins were believed to be still alive, he said.

“The local community (has) been doing a lot of work over there with the animals,” he said.

“We will continue to work with the local community as well. When you have a lot of animals like this involved, you need all the help you can get.”