Australia: hundreds of whales stranded on shore

About 230 whales have been found stranded on the western shore of Australia’s Tasmania, according to authorities on Wednesday. The whales, appearing to be pilot whales, are stranded on Ocean Beach and on a sand flat inside Macquarie Harbour, the Service said. “Early reports estimate that about half of the animals are alive,” it added. “Marine conservation experts from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment are responding,” the Service said, adding that experts will “assess the scene and the situation to plan an appropriate response.”