1. Australians race to save stranded whales

2. A pod of whales is seen stranded on a sandbar at Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania, September 21.

3. Stranded pilot whales are seen in Macquarie Heads, Tasmania, Australia, September 21. RYAN BLOOMFIELD/via REUTERS

4. Rescue efforts to save whales stranded on a sandbar take place at Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania, September 22.

5. Rescue efforts to save whales stranded on a sandbar at Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania, September 22. More than 60 people are involved in the rescue effort, including local fishermen and volunteers.

6. People assist stranded whales in Macquarie Heads, Tasmania, September 22.

7. A pod of whales stranded on a sandbar at Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania, September 21.   AAP Image/The Advocate Pool, Brodie Weeding via REUTERS  

8. Rescue efforts to save whales stranded on a sandbar at Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania, Australia, September 22.  AAP Image/The Advocate Pool, Brodie Weeding via REUTERS

9. Stranded whales in Macquarie Heads, Tasmania, September 22. RYAN BLOOMFIELD /via REUTERS

10. Rescue efforts to save whales stranded on a sandbar at Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania, September 22.  AAP Image/The Advocate Pool, Brodie Weeding via REUTERS

11. Rescue efforts to save whales stranded on a sandbar at Macquarie Harbour, near Strahan, Tasmania, September 22.

12. Whale rescue efforts take place at Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania, September 22. Bilal Rashid via REUTERS

13. Stranded pilot whales are seen in Macquarie Heads, Tasmania, September 21. RYAN BLOOMFIELD/via REUTERS

14. A pod of whales stranded on a sandbar at Macquarie Harbour, near Strahan, Tasmania, September 21.   AAP Image/The Advocate Pool, Brodie Weeding via REUTERS

15. Stranded whales on a sandbar in Macquarie Heads, Tasmania, September 21. Tasmania Police/via REUTERS

16. Stranded whales in Macquarie Heads, Tasmania, September 22. RYAN BLOOMFIELD /via REUTERS

17. Dead pilot whale calves lie on the beach in Macquarie Heads, Tasmania, September 22. Bilal Rashid via REUTERS