Over 100 whales stranded in Western Australia, majority rescued

Over a hundred whales were stranded on the shores of Western Australia, prompting officials, scientists, veterinarians, and residents to rush to their rescue. Despite the efforts of hundreds of people, about 30 animals could not be saved.

Four pods of whales were found last Thursday in the shallow waters of Toby Inlet in Geographe Bay, Western Australia, according to the British news television website Sky News. Over a hundred whales were stranded, and about 30 could not be saved.

Wildlife officials, experts, scientists, and veterinarians were involved in the rescue operation, which covered an area of about 500 metres along the beach near the popular tourist town of Dunsborough.

"When I first arrived at the scene, I believe there were 160 whales. They were almost out of the water. There were also several hundred people there attempting to help the whales by keeping their heads out of the water so they could breathe. Then, after about an hour, suddenly, those in the water and still alive left the shallow shore and swam out to sea," reported local whale researcher Ian Wiese, quoted by the Associated Press.

Ships and a surveillance plane monitored the rescued whales in case they returned to the shore, said Pia Courtis, a regional wildlife official in the Parks and Wildlife Service in Western Australia. - So far, so good; they have not returned to shore, but we will continue to monitor them - she said.

Experts say that the survival rates for whales stranded on shore are low, and the animals "can only survive about six hours on land before they begin to deteriorate," reports CNN.

The dead whales were removed from the water to prevent their corpses from attracting sharks. "This story ended well. Usually, with this kind of beaching, it ends with 100 (editor's note: dead) whales, and only five or six are saved," Wiese stated.