Mass beaching kills 40 dolphins

At least 40 dolphins died after beaching themselves on a remote Western Australia beach. The marine mammals were spotted a few days ago on a 30km stretch of coastline between Black Point and the mouth of the Warren River in Dentrecasteaux National Park, south-west of Pemberton.

Officers from the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) spent an emotional night trying to save nine of the dolphins, which were still alive when rescuers reached the beach. A team of 30 CALM officers, volunteers and a local veterinary used quad bikes and walked for up to 5km to locate the mammals.

CALM spokeswoman Jean Stewart said the dead animals were weighed, measured and sexed, and tissue samples had been taken, but their bodies would not be buried. "Unfortunately we can't do anything about the remains and carcasses because the area is so inaccessible," Ms Stewart said.

The stranding occurred about 100km south of the Dolphin Bay boat ramp in Bussleton, 232km south of Perth, where more than 50 false killer whales beached themselves in June last year. In April 2005, 13 long-finned pilot whales were rescued and helped back out to sea after a pod of 19 beached themselves in the Busselton area.

Mr Meehan said it was rare to see such a large stranding of striped dolphins, which were deepwater mammals and rarely spotted close to shore. Aerial spotters will remain in the area to look out for further strandings.