34 dolphins stranded on Australia's coast

CANBERRA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Australian marine experts worked on Tuesday to save a group of dolphins after 34 of them were beached at the mouth of a river on Australian state, Tasmania's remote west coast.

Experts from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) have been trying to keep the bottlenose dolphins alive at the Pieman River.

A statement from the DPIPWE said 17 dolphins had survived the beaching. "Since then a group has been moved from the beach into the shallow water near the mouth of the river," the statement said.

"Several animals did not survive the day. Staff are now focusing on keeping the surviving stranded animals moving in shallow water to get them fit for release into the river."

A DPIPWE spokesman told the Australian Associated Press the rescue was made difficult by the area's remoteness. "Communication is only available via satellite phone at this stage," the spokesman said.

"We're using the river as transport at this stage because the rain has made parts of the area inaccessible."

Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is located south of the eastern side of the Australian continent.