Stranded SW whales rescued

Volunteers have saved four whales which beached themselves on a Busselton beach this afternoon.

Busselton Volunteer Marine Group volunteers and Department of Environment and Conversation officers were called to the beach off Dolphin Road in West Busselton at about 3.30pm after reports four Gray’s beaked whales were stranded on the beach.

It is understood several holidaymakers helped push two of the whales out into deeper water before they swam away.

Busselton Volunteer Marine Group skipper Ron Piggott said when his group arrived only two whales remained and they did not appear to be visibly distressed.

DEC officers, a vet and volunteers put slings around the whales before they were towed several kilometres out to sea by the rescue boat.

“They were calm and placid even when we were strapping them to the side of the boat, there was no thrashing about,” Mr Piggot said.

“When we let them go, they seemed to swim away quite strongly,” Mr Piggot said.

It is not known why the whales beached themselves but mass strandings in WA are not uncommon.

In 1996 in Dunsborough 320 long-finned pilot whales beached themselves with all but 20 surviving after efforts by volunteers and DEC.