Mass stranding kills 29 pilot whales

There have been over two dozen whale deaths but over 100 saved during a huge stranding at a beach in the southwest of Western Australia.

Up to 160 pilot whales beached themselves at Toby Inlet near Dunsborough, more than 250km south of Perth, on Thursday.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions said 29 whales had died.

“We’re in the stage of removing them off the beach and taking measurements and samples,” Regional Wildlife Officer Pia Courtis said.

The remaining whales that were spread across 500 metres of the beach were helped back out into the ocean where another two pods of about 130 animals were sticking together offshore.

Most of the whales appeared to be adult females with a few calves, Senior Research Scientist Marine Fauna Holly Raudino said.