Twenty-nine pilot whales dead after mass stranding on WA beach

Authorities are rushing to save more than 150 whales from a mass stranding at a beach in Western Australia’s south-west. Four pods have spread across roughly 500 metres at Toby Inlet near Dunsborough and 29 of these have died, Parks and Wildlife Service Western Australia confirmed.

“There are 20 whales in a pod about 1.5km offshore. Another pod of about 110 animals are together closer offshore,” a spokesperson said.

Wildlife officers, marine scientists and veterinarians are on site assessing the conditions of the whales that have become stranded.

“Our teams on the water are trying to keep the animals together and away from the beach,” the spokesperson said.

Twenty-nine pilot whales dead after mass stranding on WA beach
Authorities are rushing to save more than 150 whales from a mass stranding at a beach in Western Australia’s south-west. Four pods have spread across roughly 500 metres at Toby Inlet near Dunsborough and 29 of these have died, Parks and Wildlife Service Western Australia confirmed.

Blue Derby Wild's High Court appeal thrown out, with native logging set to continue near mountain-biking trails
The logging of native forest is set to resume next to world-famous mountain-biking trails in north-east Tasmania after the High Court dismissed a challenge from environmentalists. 

If plastic manufacturing goes up 10%, plastic pollution goes up 10% – and we’re set for a huge surge in production
In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20 percent of global oil production and use up 15 percent of the annual carbon emissions budget.

Residents of climate change-affected communities support Torres Strait Islanders in landmark federal court case
Uncle Paul Kabai and Pabai Pabai are suing the federal government for "failing its duty of care" to protect their ancestral lands from the impacts of climate change. The landmark court case is the first of its kind in Australia but follows several significant international climate cases.

Wildlife hospital gets boost for koala conservation
Sick and injured koalas will receive more care with a dedicated centre to care for the depleted marsupial population. The NSW government will spend $4.5 million to establish the centre at the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital in southwestern Sydney.

Native bats should be celebrated like other Australian wildlife, ecologist says
Australia is famous for wildlife from furry marsupials to scaly lizards and deadly spiders, but a scientist says our native bats are not getting the love or admiration they deserve. Negative stereotypes and links to the outbreak of COVID-19 have given bats a poor reputation, with few people showing interest in Australia's numerous and diverse bat species.