Volunteers help 45 pilot whales reach deeper waters after getting stranded on Australian beach

Volunteers and wildlife experts attempted to save 45 live pilot whales that were beached overnight on Cheynes Beach, Western Australia.

In footage, the group of rescuers are seen trying to safely lead the whales into deeper waters.

“We’re going to gently try to herd them away,” Western Australia’s Parks and Wildlife Service controller, Peter Hartley, said of the mission.

Despite efforts to save the live whales, more than 50 members of the pod died after stranding on the remote beach.

Wildlife experts said the unusual behaviour of the whales could be an indicator of stress or illness within the pod.