Rescue operation races to save hundreds of whales stranded on New Zealand beach

REUTERS
 

People look at stranded pilot whales seen on the beach in Golden Bay, New Zealand after one of the country's largest recorded mass whale strandings on Friday, in this still frame taken from video released February 10, 2017. TV NZ/TV3 (NEW ZEALAND) via REUTERS TV

 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Rescuers are racing to save hundreds of pilot whales in New Zealand's picturesque Golden Bay on Friday, after one of the country's largest recorded mass whale strandings.

 

Up to 300 whales had died and volunteers were trying to send more than a hundred more back out to sea.

 

A conservation department worker noticed the whales washed ashore on Thursday evening, but the government agency decided against a night rescue effort for fear volunteers would be injured by the whales in the darkness.

 

Local media reported on Friday that volunteers had managed to refloat some of the whales during high tide, but most were quickly restranded as the tide ebbed.

 

The event was New Zealand's largest known whale stranding since 1985 when 450 were stranded in Auckland.

 

Whales often get stuck at Golden Bay, a remote but popular holiday area at the top of New Zealand's south island. The bay's shallow waters make it difficult for whales to return to deeper water, according to marine life rescue organisation Jonah Watch.

 

(Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-10

Sad and strange phenomenon. Seems to happen somewhere every few years. Hope they've succeeded in saving at least some.