Stranding sends whale rescuers back to same spot

HOBART - A third pod of whales has stranded in southern Tasmania at the same spot where up to 70 pilot whales beached themselves yesterday.

Rescuers are working to save 14 whales at the southern end of Marion Bay, east of Hobart.

Dozens of volunteers and Parks and Wildlife officers managed to save 11 whales last night after two pods of pilot whales - which are actually dolphins - beached themselves on the northern and southern ends of Marion Bay.

It is not known what caused the beaching, but service spokeswoman Ingrid Albion told the ABC today that only one whale needed to get into trouble to cause a stranding.

"They use sonar so they can get confused when they come into sandy beaches," she said.

"Only one of them has to get in trouble and make a wrong turn and they'll actually call the rest of the pod to them."

- AAP