Dozens of pilot whales stranded on New Zealand coast
SYDNEY: Dozens of pilot whales have been found stranded on a beach on New Zealand’s North Island, and rescuers are trying to refloat a handful of survivors, the country’s conservation department said on Thursday.
Dozens of pilot whales have been stranded on a New Zealand beach, with rescue efforts underway to save some of the survivors, according to the country's conservation department. At least 20 pilot whales were found stranded on the Ngawi coast near Cape Palliser, the southernmost point of New Zealand's North Island, the department reported.
The department is collaborating with local Maori tribe (iwi) and Project Jonah, a group specializing in rescuing stranded whales. Two whales have been successfully refloated so far. Local reports suggest that up to 50 whales were stranded along the coastline overnight, with most succumbing to their injuries. Volunteers are working to keep the survivors alive and hydrated using buckets of water and towels.
Rob Bargh, a local resident, described the situation as "horrible" as the surviving whales were on their last breaths. Project Jonah announced on Facebook that four whales were alive and rescue teams would attempt to refloat them during high tide. Whale strandings are common in New Zealand and neighboring Australia due to the large populations of pilot whales living in the deep oceans around both island nations. The cause of whale strandings remains unknown.
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