Whales die in mass stranding
The pod of beached whales at Stewart Island
More than 100 pilot whales died in a mass stranding at a remote New Zealand beach, conservation officials said Monday.
Hikers reported finding 107 whales beached on Stewart Island, off the South Island's southwest coast on Sunday.
According to the Department of Conservation's (DoC) spokesman many of the whales were already dead when rangers arrived.
A decision was made to euthanise the remaining 48 whales as there was no prospect of refloating them.
"We were quickly aware that it would be at least 10 to 12 hours before we could attempt to refloat them and that given the hot, dry conditions many more would soon perish," he said.
The spokesman said a storm was also bearing down on the beach near Mason Bay where the whales were stranded, making it too dangerous to try to get them back into the sea.
"We were worried we would be endangering the lives of staff and volunteers," he said.
Pilot whales up to six metres are the most common species of whales seen in New Zealand waters.
Mass strandings are common on the country's rugged coast.
Earlier this month, 14 died after beaching near the South Island tourist city of Nelson and 24 perished last month near Cape Reinga in the country's far north.
Scientists are unsure why pilot whales beach themselves, although they speculate it may occur when their sonar becomes scrambled in shallow water or when a sick member of the pod heads for shore and others follow.
Source: Agencies
Published Feb 21 2011
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