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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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6

Aussies Can't Save 87 Stranded Whales

But rescuers are ultimately able to save only four

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(Newser) – Rescue crews saved four long-finned pilot whales after a mass stranding in Western Australia’s Hamelin Bay, but scores of others died, the West Australian reports. Eighty-seven whales and dolphins beached Monday, prompting more than 250 volunteers and 100 conservation workers to spend a near-freezing night on the beach nursing the survivors with by pouring water on them and making sure their blowholes were clear.

Eleven of the surviving marine mammals were then put on trucks to be released into the deeper water of nearby Flinders Bay. One of those had trouble breathing and had to be euthanized. All seemed well for the survivors until this morning, when six landed again on a beach inaccessible to rescue equipment. Two were already dead, and the remaining four whales will be put down today.

Dead long-finned pilot whales lie on a beach at Hamelin Bay after they beached themselves in Western Australia, Monday, March 23,2009.
Dead long-finned pilot whales lie on a beach at Hamelin Bay after they beached themselves in Western Australia, Monday, March 23,2009.   (AP Photo/Steve Mitchell)
In this Tuesday, March 24, 2009 photo released by the Department of Environment and Conservation, rescuers lower a whale into the water at Flinders Bay Monday, March 23, 2009.
In this Tuesday, March 24, 2009 photo released by the Department of Environment and Conservation, rescuers lower a whale into the water at Flinders Bay Monday, March 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Department of Environment and Conservation, Emma de Burgh)
In this Tuesday, March 24, 2009 photo released by the Department of Environment and Conservation, rescuers tend to a whale in the water at Flinders Bay as they attempt to get it back out to see after it was found beached in Hamelin Bay, Western Australia, Monday, March 23,2009.
In this Tuesday, March 24, 2009 photo released by the Department of Environment and Conservation, rescuers tend to a whale in the water at Flinders Bay as they attempt to get it back out to see after...   (AP Photo/Department of Environment and Conservation, Emma de Burgh, HO)
In this Tuesday, March 24, 2009 photo released by the Department of Environment and Conservation, rescuers tend to whales in the water at Flinders Bay Monday, March 23, 2009.
In this Tuesday, March 24, 2009 photo released by the Department of Environment and Conservation, rescuers tend to whales in the water at Flinders Bay Monday, March 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Department of Environment and Conservation, Emma de Burgh, HO)
Rescuers work to keep alive some of the 17 long-finned pilot whales that were being battered by rough seas after they were beached in Hamelin Bay, Western Australia, Monday, March 23, 2009.
Rescuers work to keep alive some of the 17 long-finned pilot whales that were being battered by rough seas after they were beached in Hamelin Bay, Western Australia, Monday, March 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Steve Mitchell)
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6 comments
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PosterNutbag
Mar 25, 09 12:33 PM CDT
That is tragic. How did so many get beached at the same time? Reply
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Doctor_Zaius
Mar 25, 09 3:48 PM CDT
Mega strength military sonar makes them crazy. Their primary sense is hearing. Imagine slipping acid to a group of neanderthal man
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Mr.C
Mar 25, 09 2:06 PM CDT
this is like the classic lemming suicide in reverse Reply
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Mad
Mar 25, 09 3:58 PM CDT
Spooky - weird when the world's most intelligent beasts do something so out of character Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
SPH
Mar 25, 09 8:44 PM CDT
Like try to save other creatures that are in peril?..It is somewhat out of character because there appears to be no money in the effort....
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