Volunteers and lifeguards have to race against time to save the survivors, among nearly 200 whales and dolphins stranded on Australia's King and Tasmania islands one-third.
> Whales stranded in Australia

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The collective stranding occurred when 194 pepper whales and dozens of gray dolphins drifted to the beach on King Island. Photo: Reuters.

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Most fish die after being stranded. Only 54 whales and 7 dolphins remain. Photo: Reuters.

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The woman put on a wet cloth and rubbed a dolphin on her body on March 2, a day after it ran aground. Photo: Reuters.

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This gray dolphin has died of being stranded for too long. Photo: AFP.

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The phenomenon of dolphin stranding with whales rarely occurs. Photo: AP.

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People dug to guide the water to the whale. Photo: AFP.

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Two lifeguards spray water on whale skin to keep them moist and cold. Photo: AP.