80 whales beach in Aus
2005-06-02 07:54
Australia - Up to 80 false killer whales were stranded on Australia's western coast on Thursday and local authorities asked volunteers to help them mount a rescue operation.
Between 70 and 80 of the dolphin-sized marine mammals were reported on a beach at Busselton in Western Australia State and others were at risk of beaching, Department of Conservation and Land Management manager Greg Mair said.
The state government asked for volunteers to help them save the false killer whales.
Busselton is about 230 kilometres south of the state capital Perth.
False killer whales, or pseudorca crassidens, have a history of beaching on the Australian west coast. In 1986, 114 beached near Augusta, south of Busselton. Of them, 96 were returned to sea while the remainder died.
In April, a pod of 19 pilot whales spent more than a day stranded on a beach near Busselton before most of them were coaxed back to sea. Six of them died.
Scientists have yet to explain the factors that trigger such mass whale strandings.
- AP