Sydney, Sept 23 (AFP/APP): Hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing Wednesday to free a few dozen survivors. Another 200 long-finned pilot whales were discovered Wednesday in Macquarie Harbour, on the rugged and sparsely populated west coast of Tasmania, taking to 470 the number that have become stuck this week. About 270 pilot whales were found Monday, sparking a major effort to free the giant mammals from a sandbar only accessible by boat. Parks and Wildlife Service manager Nic Deka said most of the second pod, which was discovered early Wednesday morning by an aerial surveillance crew, were believed to be dead. “We have a boat that’s arrived on site a short while ago, so they’ve assessed one group — the smaller group which is in one bay — and all of those whales are dead,” he told AFP. “They’re currently going around to the second bay where the bigger group is.” The rescue crew of 60 conservationists, skilled volunteers and local fish farm workers are now concentrating their efforts on the survivors from the first pod, which are partially submerged. “The best assessment that we’ve … Continue reading Hundreds of whales dead in Australia stranding