Former Fremantle Dockers player and Albany resident Brett Peake, who is one of the volunteers helping, told Radio 6PR it was a surreal and grim scene.

“We’ve probably lost half of them. There was probably 100 [whales] give or take, there was someone counting from the authorities last night, and 45 [still alive] is the current count,” he said.

“When we left last night around 10pm, there was probably 15 that had already gone.”

He said it had been a difficult process, and often when one was pushed back out to sea, it came back and beached itself again.

“But I didn’t see two of them come back in so I’m hoping for the best, that they are out there somewhere,” he said.

“If we can save one or 50 that’s a positive outcome.”

Drone footage capturing the whales’ odd clustering was taken by Cheynes Beach Caravan Park owner Joanne Marsh, who said she had never seen anything like it in the 23 years she had lived near the town.

The creatures could be seen gathered about 150 metres off the popular beach located 70 kilometres from Albany, sparking fears they might beach themselves.

Marsh said in the past one or two whales had beached in the area, but not pilot whales, and that authorities had guessed there may be killer whales in the area, and the pilot whales made their formation for defence.

Minderoo Foundation researcher Dr Rebecca Wellard said it was unusual for long-finned pilot whales, an open-ocean species, to be so close to shore and tightly grouped, and after viewing the footage said the animals looked stressed.

But she said it was unlikely to be a defensive mechanism.

“I’ve seen killer whales and pilot whales interact off the shore of Chenye’s Beach for many years now, and the pilot whales give killer whales a good run for their money,” she said.

“I don’t see this behaviour, grouped up like that, as a response to a predator. I’ve seen them group tightly when there’s been killer whales around, but they continue swimming. These guys were almost stationary and if that was a defensive mode, it’s not a very good one.”

Wellard said the long-finned pilot whales lived in complex social family groups, and were known to strand in mass numbers for reasons still unknown by scientists.

“I think every stranding is unique to the species and the situation. With pilot whales, their strong family bonds may be a contributor to mass strandings,” she said.

“If one animal is sick, or they have navigational issues, they will strand together.”

Wellard said there was only a short window to intervene after the whales stranded, and the longer they spent on the sand, the lower their chance of survival.

WA Premier Roger Cook said the situation had evolved over Tuesday night, despite the best efforts of Parks and Wildlife staff.

“I’d like to acknowledge and thank the hardworking Parks and Wildlife staff who have worked through a very cold night and tough conditions to help these stranded whales,” he said.

“I am advised they now have enough staff and registered volunteers, and the best way to help is for members of the public to stay away from Cheynes Beach today.”

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