Beached dolphins and whales

Up to 60 whales and dolphins have been reported stranded on a remote beach in southern Australia, a wildlife official said on Tuesday.A fisherman spotted the animals swimming onto a beach near Marion Bay on the southern island state of Tasmania early on Tuesday, according to Liz Wren, a spokesperson for the state's parks and wildlife service.

The beach where the whales were stranded is accessible only by boat, and officials were flying over the area to assess the situation, Wren said.She said it was not clear what species of whale was involved in the stranding.Wren also said it was not clear why the whales might have beached themselves, but that the area was a "hot spot for strandings in the past".