UPDATE: Only 15 of the 150 pilot whales that stranded themselves in the South West of Western Australia have survived so far.

Parks and Wildlife parks and business development coordinator Ben Tannock said by late this afternoon trained volunteers and specialist staff would attempt to herd those animals out to deeper water.

"It's one of the mysteries of nature," he said.

"Hopefully we can save as many as we can, but once they come ashore like that they do deteriorate quite quickly."