Nearly 150 stranded whales die at Australian beach

Canberra [Australia]: A total of 150 short-finned whales had become stranded at Hamelin beach in Western Australia, out of which five have been rescued and released back into the waters.

The surviving whales were freed by the authorities at Hamelin Bay south of Perth with the help of a team of veterinarians and more than 100 volunteers, as reported by The Guardian.

The surviving five whales have been moved to deeper waters, but there is still a risk they could return to dry land.

The Parks and Wildlife Service incident controller Jeremy Chick said whales often come back on to the shore after mass-stranding events.

"We ask the public to keep a lookout and if anyone sees a stranded whale please report it," the Guardian quoted Chick as saying.

The whale rescue operation began early Saturday and is still underway. Last night sixth whale was also rescued but it beached again and had to be euthanised.

The rescue efforts were hampered by dead whales in the water, rocky terrain and rough seas at the bay.

Further, a shark alert has been issued by the Fisheries Department as the whale carcasses could attract the ocean predators.

Hamelin Beach has been closed down from Hamelin Caravan Park to North Point until the remains of the dead whales are removed from the location.

The biggest mass beaching in WA occurred in 1996 in Dunsborough, when 320 long-finned pilot whales beached themselves.