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Hamelin Bay: Nearly 150 beached whales die in Australia | Hamelin Bay: Nearly 150 beached whales die in Australia |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Only six whales have survived a mass stranding of pilot whales on the coast of Western Australia. | |
About 150 of the animals were found beached at Hamelin Bay, about 300km (180 miles) south of Perth. | About 150 of the animals were found beached at Hamelin Bay, about 300km (180 miles) south of Perth. |
Their discovery by a local fisherman on Friday prompted a major rescue effort to return them to deeper waters. | Their discovery by a local fisherman on Friday prompted a major rescue effort to return them to deeper waters. |
However, by nightfall, more than 140 of the whales had died, with deteriorating weather conditions and the threat of frenzied sharks impeding efforts. | However, by nightfall, more than 140 of the whales had died, with deteriorating weather conditions and the threat of frenzied sharks impeding efforts. |
More than 100 volunteers, wildlife personnel and others came to the aid of the beached pilot whales, a species known to strand en masse. | |
"I've never seen anything like it, seen so many whales beached like this," one tourist told the Associated Press news agency. | "I've never seen anything like it, seen so many whales beached like this," one tourist told the Associated Press news agency. |
"Unfortunately, most of the whales beached themselves on dry land overnight [on Thursday] and have not survived," Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson Jeremy Chick said in a statement. | "Unfortunately, most of the whales beached themselves on dry land overnight [on Thursday] and have not survived," Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson Jeremy Chick said in a statement. |
The rocky beach terrain, dead whales surrounding the survivors and rough seas were challenging factors in moving the surviving whales, officials said. | The rocky beach terrain, dead whales surrounding the survivors and rough seas were challenging factors in moving the surviving whales, officials said. |
Mr Chick said there was a risk the surviving whales might come back into shore and re-strand. | Mr Chick said there was a risk the surviving whales might come back into shore and re-strand. |
"This has often been the case in previous mass strandings," he added. | "This has often been the case in previous mass strandings," he added. |
'A mystery of nature' | 'A mystery of nature' |
Scientists do not know exactly what causes whales to beach themselves. | Scientists do not know exactly what causes whales to beach themselves. |
Experts have said stranding can occur when whales are sick or injured, or make navigational errors, particularly along gentle sloping beaches. | Experts have said stranding can occur when whales are sick or injured, or make navigational errors, particularly along gentle sloping beaches. |
"It's one of the mysteries of nature," one of the rescue coordinators told the Sydney Morning Herald, adding that "once they come ashore like that they do deteriorate quite quickly." | "It's one of the mysteries of nature," one of the rescue coordinators told the Sydney Morning Herald, adding that "once they come ashore like that they do deteriorate quite quickly." |
Sometimes beached animals can send out distress signals that attract other whales to become stranded. | Sometimes beached animals can send out distress signals that attract other whales to become stranded. |
In 1996, about 320 whales became beached in Western Australia's largest stranding. |
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