58 whales die after stranding on beach
Source: Agencies |
August 21, 2010, Saturday
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FIFTY-EIGHT pilot whales died after they washed onto an isolated beach in north New Zealand, and rescue volunteers' initial efforts to refloat 15 others that survived failed yesterday.
A fresh attempt to save the 15 beached sea mammals -- which weigh up to 1,500 kilograms each -- will be made early today using machinery, including a crane and transporter, said a Department of Conservation spokesman.
The 73 pilot whales probably stranded during the night on remote Karikari Beach which is why so many died.
New Zealand frequently sees several mass whale strandings around its coastline, mainly each summer as whales pass by on their migration to and from Antarctic waters. Scientists have not been able to determine why whales become stranded.
A pod of 101 pilot whales stranded on the same beach in 2007.
Kimberly Muncaster, chief executive of the Project Jonah whale aid group, said the 15 surviving whales were in "fairly poor condition."
About 40 people tried to refloat them at high tide yesterday.
The 15 whales would not need to be sedated for today's second rescue attempt using the heavy equipment as they were already in quite a docile state.
"The plan at first light will be to remove the whales across about 1 kilometer of road by transporter and refloat them in Matai Bay," the department spokesman said, where sea conditions would be easier and the bay more sheltered.
Since 1840, more than 5,000 strandings of whales and dolphins have been recorded around the New Zealand coast.
A fresh attempt to save the 15 beached sea mammals -- which weigh up to 1,500 kilograms each -- will be made early today using machinery, including a crane and transporter, said a Department of Conservation spokesman.
The 73 pilot whales probably stranded during the night on remote Karikari Beach which is why so many died.
New Zealand frequently sees several mass whale strandings around its coastline, mainly each summer as whales pass by on their migration to and from Antarctic waters. Scientists have not been able to determine why whales become stranded.
A pod of 101 pilot whales stranded on the same beach in 2007.
Kimberly Muncaster, chief executive of the Project Jonah whale aid group, said the 15 surviving whales were in "fairly poor condition."
About 40 people tried to refloat them at high tide yesterday.
The 15 whales would not need to be sedated for today's second rescue attempt using the heavy equipment as they were already in quite a docile state.
"The plan at first light will be to remove the whales across about 1 kilometer of road by transporter and refloat them in Matai Bay," the department spokesman said, where sea conditions would be easier and the bay more sheltered.
Since 1840, more than 5,000 strandings of whales and dolphins have been recorded around the New Zealand coast.
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