Volunteers faced a race against time to help save a pod of pilot whales that became stranded on a beach in Tasmania.
In what is thought to be one of the biggest mass beachings in Australia, 200 pilot whales and a small number of dolphins came ashore on King Island on Sunday evening (march 1, 09)
More than 150 volunteers headed to the beach to help with rescue efforts while rescuers in small boats tried to steering the remaining pod away from the beach.
Chris Arthur from Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service said about 140 of the animals had died.


The latest update from the Tasmanian Government said rescuers had saved 54 pilot whales and five dolphins.
Mr Arthur said staff and volunteers successfully refloated stranded animals on the high tide.
"This means all the surviving stranded whales have now been refloated.
"This rescue effort would not have been possible without the exceptional assistance of the local community."