SYDNEY – Hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing Wednesday to free a few dozen survivors.
Another 200 long-finned pilot whales were discovered Wednesday in Macquarie Harbor, on the rugged and sparsely populated west coast of Tasmania, taking to 470 the number that have become stuck this week.
Parks and Wildlife Service manager Nic Deka said most of the second pod were believed to be dead.
The rescue crew of 60 conservationists, skilled volunteers and local fish farm workers are now concentrating their efforts on the survivors from the first pod, which are partially submerged.
Officials have now expanded their search area to see if more whales are stuck nearby.(AFP)
