Parks and Wildlife Service advises there has been no sightings this morning of five of the six surviving short finned pilot whales that were moved into deeper water yesterday evening.
Unfortunately one of the whales re-stranded last night and had to be euthanised. The six whales were the only ones still alive following a mass stranding of 150 whales yesterday early at Hamelin Bay near Augusta.
Parks and Wildlife Service Incident Controller Jeremy Chick said though there had been no sighting, it was possible that the whales would come back into shore and re-strand.
This has often been the case in previous mass strandings. “We ask the public to keep a look out and if anyone sees a stranded whale to please report it to the Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055,”
Mr Chick said. “We will be undertaking a comprehensive sweep of surrounding beaches this morning by air, sea and land to check for any whales that have re-stranded and to ensure we have accounted for all the deceased whales.”
Parks and Wildlife Service staff are being assisted by vets, Sea Search and Rescue and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
More than 100 volunteers were involved in the rescue. Mr Chick said the department appreciated the support from volunteers and other agencies involved. The department is working with the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River to remove the deceased whales from the beach today.
Parks and Wildlife Service officers are taking DNA samples from the deceased whales to try and determine possible clues for why whales strand. Hamelin Beach remains closed from Hamelin Caravan Park to North Point including Grace Road and Reserve Road. DPIRD has issued a shark alert for the area.