Sydney  - The sole remaining survivor among a pod of 192 pilot whales that came ashore on Tasmania's King Island still has a chance of joining the more than 50 already returned to the sea, Australian officials said Tuesday.

Five bottlenose dolphins that also beached Sunday at Naracoopa were coaxed or dragged by boat back out to sea, Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman Chris Arthur said.

One of the 54 whales that a 150-member group of King Island locals carried back into the water was brought back on land so it could be stabilized before another attempt could be made to refloat it.

"The good news is that that animal is still alive, ... and we're looking at our options," Arthur told national broadcaster ABC.

"But the thing to remember is that ... we had 54 live pilot whales and there were five live dolphins and that during the whole day we didn't lose a live animal. The dead were dead, and we concentrated on the living."

Arthur praised King Island locals for their efforts in keeping the animals wet to stave off the lethal dehydration.

"The work and the energy they put in was incredible," he said. "What we were doing was literally picking up animals in whale rescue mats. When you think that for each animal to move requires about 20 people, that's a significant community effort."

Often, those refloated break the hearts of those trying to save them by coming ashore again either at the same location or at a nearby beach. One baby whale was refloated twice before it stayed out with the pod.

"Families, children, mums and dads, grandparents - all here helping out doing their bit under the guidance of a local parks ranger," King Island council general manager Andrew Wardlaw told local radio.

More than 400 whales have beached themselves since November in Tasmania. Most of Australia's strandings are in Tasmania - indeed, most of the world's recorded strandings are there.

Opinions differ on why strandings happen.

Peter Mooney, general manager of the Parks and Wildlife Service in Tasmania, said that whales often put their own survival at risk to stay with their pod.

"They are incredibly socially strong," he told ABC. "One whale beaches, and the others come in to be with that whale, and we end up with the whole pod stranded. They just won't leave other whales they think are in distress - even if it means their own death." (dpa)