Freed whales back on Australian beach

SYDNEY, March 25 (UPI) -- Australian wildlife officials say they are once again attempting to assist a half-dozen pilot whales that beached themselves for a second time.

The whales are among 10 whales that had been pushed out to sea after a mass beaching in western Australia and turned up back on the beach Tuesday.

"They have been found along a stretch of pretty rugged coastline,'' Jason Foster, spokesman for the Department of Environment and Conservations, told the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

About 180 volunteers rushed to the aid of 87 long-finned pilot whales found ashore at Hamelin Bay Monday morning. Some of the mammals returned to open water and 11 were taken by truck to nearby Flinders Bay were they were released.

One of the survivors had to later be euthanized and another 70 whales died on the beach.