SAYS REPORT
52 whales die in Australia
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 19:13:00 11/22/2008
Filed Under: Animals, Environmental Issues
SYDNEY, Australia -- Fifty-two pilot whales have died after a mass stranding on Tasmania's northwest coast, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported Saturday.
Thirteen whales were still alive on Anthony's Beach at Stanley on the island south of the Australian mainland, and wildlife rangers and volunteers were trying to stabilize them, the broadcaster said.
"People are moving water around them, people are stopping them from drying and stopping them from getting sun-burnt because their biggest problem is they get overheated," said Parks and Wildlife official Chris Arthur.
"Then we're going to try and move some if we can on to trailers so we can move them in to deeper water."
Pilot whales are members of the dolphin family but are considered by experts to behave more like whales.
A number of theories have been put forward as to why whales strand themselves, but the phenomenon remains a subject of scientific debate.
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