Surviving whales finally leave WA coast

Eleven whales that survived a mass beaching at Hamelin Bay on Western Australia's
south coast have finally returned to the sea.
Wildlife officers say a couple of the long-finned pilot whales, which washed up on
the beach before sunrise on Monday, are still being monitored because of their weak
condition.
The mammoth rescue effort involving up to 180 volunteers, wildlife officers and
veterinarians began when 87 whales and five dolphins were discovered by early beach
walkers at the idyllic holiday community, south of Margaret River.
More than 70 died, some went back out to sea and 11 others were on Tuesday trucked
to nearby Flinders Bay, on the eastern side of Cape Leeuwin, to be released in
calmer waters.
The whales, some measuring up to six metres long and weighing 3.5 tonnes, were
watered down during their road journey.
They were then returned to the sea using harnesses and strapping attached to the
vehicles.
Volunteers kept them corralled in shallow water until they were ready to be released
together.
The whales initially resisted their rescuers' efforts, with at least two starting to
swim back to shore.
But Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) officer Laura Sinclair said
there was now more hope for their survival.
"It's looking like the main pod is now heading along the coast in an east direction
at about six and a half knots," Ms Sinclair told AAP.
"There's a juvenile in the middle of the pack as well, which is good.
"It's looking more positive, they're not meandering back to the coast."
Two of the 11 survivors swum straight out to deep waters while a separate group
followed the shoreline, she said.
"We are assessing the condition of a couple of the whales, we're a bit concerned
about their condition," Ms Sinclair said.
"(They have) dropped back from the main pack."
The DEC has closed the beach from Hamelin Bay to Boranup North Point while the whale
carcasses are cleared by local authorities.
There have been 21 mass strandings of whales and dolphins along the West Australian
coast since 1984, according to the DEC.