A Department of Biodiversity,Conservation and Attractions spokeswoman said four pods of up to 160 pilot whales beached themselves at Toby’s Inlet near Dunsborough.
The whales are stranded on a beach at Dunsborough,near Busselton.Supplied
The spokeswoman said there were also 20 whales in a pod about 1.5 kilometres offshore and another pod of about 110 animals closer offshore that authorities worried could also beach.
“A team of experienced staff including wildlife officers,marine scientists and veterinarians are on-site or on their way,” the spokeswoman said.
“Thank you to everyone in the community who has shown their concern and been working with our staff on the beach and in the water.
“We know people want to help,but we asked that people please do not attempt to rescue the animals without direction of DBCA staff as this may cause further injury,and distress to the animals and hinder a co-ordinated rescue effort.”
Rescuers attempt to save the beached whales.Erin Adson
Pam Kennedy is on holiday in the area from Perth and said it was a horribly sad scene.
She said there was one pod at Toby’s Inlet near Dunsborough and another large pod closer to Busselton.
“There are two huge pods,” she said.
“It’s a horrible sight to see them. There are masses and masses of volunteers there,and they would have saved probably 20 so far. They’ve pulled them out to sea as far as they can.”
She said volunteers hoped that if they got a few out to sea,the pod would stick together there.
“People in the water are pulling them by their tails,” she said.
“You can see pictures of this,but you don’t get the full picture. I’ve been crying. The whales are talking to each other.”
Whale researcher Ian Wiese said he was concerned the death toll would rise.
“It’s terrible. There are many dead on the beach,” the Geographe Marine Research chair told ABC Perth.
“The others are just thrashing around,there will be many,many deaths in the next few hours.”
He said it is the biggest stranding event he had ever seen in the area.
Another researcher,Chris Burton,is still optimistic some of the whales will be saved.
“As long as we can see them breathing and people can roll them up so that they can breathe and are not breathing water and put water over their backs,that helps a lot,” he told ABC Perth from the site.
It remains unclear why whales strand themselves.
“They do it all the time,false killer whales,pilot whales,sperm whales strand for some reason we’re not sure,” Burton said.
City of Busselton rangers have closed the beach to the public.
Last year,around 50 pilot whales died off Cheynes Beach in Albany,despite desperate efforts from volunteers who braved the cold water for days as they tried to usher the.
The DBCA said based on previous strandings involving pilot whales,such as at Cheynes Beach near Albany last year,these events usually result in the beached animals having to be euthanised as the most humane outcome.
With AAP
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