More than 50 of the around 100 pilot whales which stranded themselves on Cheynes Beach yesterday have died, despite round-the-clock efforts to save them.

Nine News reporter Sarah Smith told Gary Adshead on 6PR Mornings the scenes on location are distressing, as many of the whales have re-beached themselves after being returned to the ocean.

Press PLAY to hear about what’s being done so save the remaining whales

“There needs to be so many volunteers working with each whale,” Ms Smith said.

“They keep returning themselves to the beach, which is just heartbreaking.”

Curtin University’s Ocean Conservation Program Manager Doctor Rebecca Wellard told Gary the strange gathering of the whales offshore hours before they beached themselves has been seen once before.

Press PLAY to hear more about the research behind the causes of stranding

“They’re an open-ocean species, so seeing them in shore garners a lot of attention,” Dr Wellard said.

“This has been a really unique opportunity to observe these animals before a stranding, which helps us try to understand what’s happening.”