Recently, a large-scale stranding of pilot whales occurred in the Waikare Rapa area on New Zealand's North Island. Approximately 50 pilot whales were stranded on the coast. On November 6th local time, officials from the New Zealand Ministry of Environment confirmed that despite immediate measures taken by local professional volunteers and rescue workers, 43 pilot whales still died in this incident.
A large number of pilot whales have been stranded on the North Island of New Zealand, according to AFP.
The stranding incident occurred on the coast of Ngawi, in the southern part of New Zealand. The New Zealand Department of Conservation received a report on the 5th morning local time stating that dozens of pilot whales had stranded on the coast. The British newspaper The Guardian reported that staff and volunteers from the Department of Conservation rushed to the scene to carry out rescue operations. They tried to get the pilot whales back into the water, but most efforts ended in failure.
The marine animal protection group "Jonah Project" announced on the 6th that "when the whales were discovered, it was estimated that there were 40 to 50 whales stranded along a coastline several kilometers long. Many whales were found dead, and unfortunately, many of the living whales that were also found alive died on the same day."
The organization stated that due to the remote location of the incident, the high waves, and the coastline full of sharp rocks, rescue efforts faced significant difficulties.
Rescue workers finally managed to return several bowhead whales to the sea, but officials from the New Zealand Department of Conservation stated on the 6th that 43 bowhead whales had died.
Since a large number of pilot whales live in the deep waters surrounding New Zealand and its neighboring country Australia, collective stranding incidents with pilot whales occur frequently in both countries. However, the exact reasons for whale strandings remain unclear.
