Rescuers in Australia worked around the clock Friday to try and save stranded sperm whales washed up on a sandbar off an Australian island. Wildlife officials say the whales beached on Thursday on the bank about 160 yards off Perkins Island in northwest Tasmania. All but seven had died by the time they were spotted. By Friday morning, only five remained alive. A team of six wildlife rangers were attempting to keep the whales' skin wet by pouring water on the surviving whales.

"We always have hope. We have a plan in place that will take a lot of luck with the tide and the weather etc., but yes, we think we might be able to do something for them, but there's a lot that has to come together for that."

The reasons for the beaching were unclear, but rough sea conditions and the narrow channel the pod had been navigating between the island and the mainland could be an explanation.

Strandings happen periodically in Tasmania as whales pass on their migration to and from Antarctic waters.