Stranded Whales
© Parks and WildlifeRescuers worked by moonlight to move the stranded whales beach back into the water.

The surviving whales from a pod of 30 which stranded on Bruny Island in southern Tasmanian have been returned to the water.

Parks and wildlife rescuers worked under the light of a full moon to free 11 long-finned pilot whales on a beach on South Bruny Island.

The Parks and Wildlife Service's Rosemary Gales says the animals were returned to the water about 4:30am (AEDT) and have swum away.

"There's just been a sighting of some live whales that they're going to check out to determine if they're the same ones," she said.

The 11 whales were part of a pod of 30 which stranded on Butlers Beach yesterday afternoon.

Workers from a local fish farm and a park ranger tried to keep the whales cool and damp, but 20 died before rescuers arrived.

Parks and wildlife officers will continue to monitor the area today.