Rescue bid for beached Whales

About 15 pilot whales were found stranded today on the west Australian coast, the state government said, appealing for volunteers to help keep the mammals alive.

The whales were discovered in Geographe Bay near the coastal town of Busselton, 143 miles south of Western Australia state capital Perth, government spokesman Mark Pittavino said.

“There are about 15 pilot whales and there are some dead ones in among them but we don’t know the numbers yet,” Pittavino said.

About 50 people including volunteers and government staff were at the scene trying to save the mammals which had beached overnight, he said.

“Our first objective is just to look after the welfare and the health of the animals so we are keeping the whales wet and upright,” Pittavino said.

Veterinarians were assessing the whales’ condition, he said. Pittavino said an attempt would be made to move the whales into deep water but he could not say when. He said more volunteers were needed for the rescue operation.

Pittavino added that an airplane was searching the coast to determine if other whale pods had beached themselves.

Scientists have still to explain the factors which trigger such mass strandings by the giant sea mammals.