Across the World: Environment

45 whales beached

Rescuers poured water on the parched skin of sperm whales beached on a remote sand bank off Australia's coast on Friday to keep them alive until the next high tide, after a stranding that left at least 38 whales dead.

Wildlife officials said the whales had beached on Thursday on the bank about 160 yards off Perkins Island on the northwest of Tasmania state, and all but seven had died by the time they were spotted.