Sydney: Around 200 whales were stranded on a beach in Tasmania's King Island, which is halfway between the island state and the Australian mainland.

Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman Chris Arthur said Monday that six dolphins were also stranded at Naracoopa Beach.

"While there are animals alive, there is always hope," Arthur said.

Opinions differ on why the strandings happened. The thousands of hours put in by hundreds of nature lovers trying to refloat whales often end in disappointment when the creatures get too weak to be saved or return to the beach even after being refloated.

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