Tasmania sees the most whale strandings than anywhere in Australia (80%). It is here where they have developed the first successful technique to rescue sperm whales. Rescuers position special nets under the whale and use power boats to help break the whale free. Sperm whales can be as long as 20 metres so it can be a difficult to work with. Rescuers need to have the right nets and be sure the whales don't get entangled.

In the early 1900s about 5 strandings were reported every year. By the 1990s that number was up to about 30 per year

Source: Sympatico MSN, Whale rescuers develop new technique, March 30,