The mammals are believed to be short-finned pilot whales. A shark alert has been issued by the Fisheries Department as the stranded whales may attract the ocean predators. “Unfortunately, most of the whales beached themselves on dry land overnight and have not survived,” rescue team leader Jeremy Chick said. The biggest mass stranding of whales in Western Australia happened in 1996 in Dunsborough. That year, 320 long-finned pilot whales beached themselves.

Source: National Post March 23, 2018 08:22 UTC