Hundreds of whales stranded off the coast of Tasmania

At least 25 whales are thought to have already died as conservationists begin a huge rescue operation at Macquarie Heads off the coast of Tasmania.

The mission is due to begin early on Tuesday morning to release approximately 270 whales which have become stuck on two sand banks and a beach.

This unusual event is not unprecedented in this region as a similar number of whales were stranded nearby around a decade ago.