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80 whales strand selves on NZ beach; 40 dead
Source: Agencies |
September 23, 2010, Thursday
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AT least 40 out of 80 pilot whales that stranded themselves on a remote north New Zealand beach have died, and more whales are joining them on land, officials said yesterday.
It was the second mass beaching in the region in a month.
"More whales are still coming in. Pilot whales have very strong social bonds and they try to help each other, so more keep getting stuck," said Mark Simpson of Project Jonah, a charity that protects marine mammals.
Patrick Whaley, the Department of Conservation's operations manager on Spirits Bay beach, said officials had already euthanized some of the weakest and most stressed animals.
Rough weather and sea conditions at Spirits Bay meant the survivors will have to be taken by road about an hour south to Rarawa Beach this morning where they will be refloated.
Department of Conservation area manager Jonathan Maxwell said at least 25 of the animals were already dead when officials arrived at Spirits Bay, and another 15 had died by nightfall.
Since 1840, the Department of Conservation has recorded more than 5,000 strandings of whales and dolphins around the New Zealand coast. Scientists have not been able to determine why whales become stranded.
It was the second mass beaching in the region in a month.
"More whales are still coming in. Pilot whales have very strong social bonds and they try to help each other, so more keep getting stuck," said Mark Simpson of Project Jonah, a charity that protects marine mammals.
Patrick Whaley, the Department of Conservation's operations manager on Spirits Bay beach, said officials had already euthanized some of the weakest and most stressed animals.
Rough weather and sea conditions at Spirits Bay meant the survivors will have to be taken by road about an hour south to Rarawa Beach this morning where they will be refloated.
Department of Conservation area manager Jonathan Maxwell said at least 25 of the animals were already dead when officials arrived at Spirits Bay, and another 15 had died by nightfall.
Since 1840, the Department of Conservation has recorded more than 5,000 strandings of whales and dolphins around the New Zealand coast. Scientists have not been able to determine why whales become stranded.
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