More than 100 whales freed from WA beach

It’s heartbreaking to watch 160 pilot whales flailing in the shallows at Toby Inlet, thrashing and blowing air clearly in distress. Beachgoers in the hundreds, pouring water on the mammals, pushing them back into deeper water. I was about up to waist deep trying to keep them, keep them out because it was a bit rough and we were trying to dodge tails and stuff because they were very determined to come into the into the shallows and others were just holding them up just to keep breathing. Keeping them on their tummy so they can keep their breath open. But for 28 of the animals, including this baby whale, it was too late. Floating lifeless, eventually dragged onto the beach. I’ve never experienced a live stranding like this before. For some the loss hit hard. Our connection to the ocean is very deep and to me these are like my ancestors. More than 100 were sent back out to sea after the hours long rescue mission this morning near Dunsborough. Monitored throughout the day from the air by a spotter plane, we haven’t had any more reciting’s of the long Finn pilot whales, so that’s a positive. Why these whales beach themselves is tonight still a mystery. Sometimes it might be a member of the pod is ill and the others follow. Sometimes it might be some kind of noise disturbance. Disease can be a factor. So it’s very varied. It’s devastating deja vu. Just nine months ago 50 pilot whales died after stranding at Chains Beach in Albany. Authorities are now gathering data from each of the deceased whales in the hopes of learning more about why this occurs. And potentially preventing it from happening in the future. We are hopefully quietly confident that that what we’ve done today will hopefully help them for tomorrow, but only time will tell. And Ezra Holt joins us now live from Toby Inlet near Dunsborough. Ezra, Any sign of those rescued whales tonight? Michael, there hasn’t been. Just a short time ago, authorities sent up a plane to look for the whales and found no sign of them, which is positive news now. When those animals were beached earlier today, a vet did detect signs of illness in one of the adult whales. This can increase the risk of rebeaching. That’s why we’ll see patrols head outside out into the ocean at first light tomorrow. Now here on the beach, 28 of those whale carcasses were here. They have since been removed in the beach. Is set to reopen to the public tonight. Been an amazing rescue operation so far, Ezra. Thank you.