Australian tourists refloat stranded whales

Rescuers spent the day dragging the beached whales to safety

December 26, 1997
Web posted at: 10:17 p.m. EST (0317 GMT)

FRASER ISLAND, Australia (CNN) -- Four pilot whales beached themselves Friday on the coast of Fraser Island, a popular tourist resort in Queensland. Sixty other whales followed them into the shallow waters, putting them in danger of also being beached.

Visitors, assisted by whale rescue experts who rushed to the scene, worked frantically to refloat the gentle ocean giants and herd the whales back to sea.

All but two of the whales were rescued. Officials hope to refloat them at the next high tide.

Watch local residents try to rescue the whales.
	1.1M/15 sec./320x240 604K/15 sec./160x120 QuickTime movie

Related stories:

• Killer whale calf dies after third beaching - November 17, 1997

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• Whales!
• The Officiallu Unofficial Exploding Whale Website

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