Tragic Loss: Three Whales Perish After Mass Stranding in New Zealand
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Synopsis
Three pilot whales sadly died on Sunday after a group of 30 whales re-stranded on New Zealand's South Island, marking the third stranding in two months. Volunteers and organizations are working to refloat the remaining whales, but harsh conditions may necessitate further euthanasia.
Key Takeaways
- Three pilot whales died, one euthanized by volunteers.
- A group of 30 whales stranded near Pakawau.
- Harsh conditions hindered refloating efforts.
- Project Jonah is actively involved in rescue operations.
- Whale strandings in the area are a recurring phenomenon.
Wellington, Jan 19 (NationPress) -- Three pilot whales tragically lost their lives on Sunday, including one that was euthanized by volunteers, following the re-stranding of a pod of 30 whales of various ages and sizes near the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island. This marks the third stranding incident in the region within the last two months.
Volunteers from the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Project Jonah, an organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of whales, dolphins, and seals, worked tirelessly to refloat the remaining whales after they were discovered ashore near Pakawau in Golden Bay on Saturday, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
According to DOC Golden Bay operations manager Andrew Lamason, the challenging conditions on the beach, exacerbated by gusty easterly winds, hindered their efforts.
Project Jonah reached out on social media to local residents to assist in the refloating operation, requesting those with wetsuits to help keep the whales upright and cool.
Unfortunately, the remaining whales may need to be euthanized due to the lack of progress made by the rescue team.
In a related incident last week, a juvenile beaked whale was found stranded on the beach at New Brighton in Christchurch, New Zealand's largest city on the South Island, but was swiftly refloated, as indicated by Project Jonah.
The specific shape of the bay has been suggested as a potential reason for the recurrent whale strandings, according to reports.
Project Jonah also mentioned on social media that another stranding occurred in Christchurch, involving a juvenile beaked whale that washed ashore in New Brighton.
Of the eight whales that stranded on January 7, 10 were successfully refloated.
A larger pod stranded in December, yielding mixed results.
DOC Golden Bay operations manager Ross Trotter expressed uncertainty regarding the reasons behind these whale strandings, particularly at Farewell Spit.
"It has been ongoing for years. Numerous theories and scientific studies have been conducted, but the reasons for the initial strandings or the repeated occurrences remain unclear," he stated.
As for the whale in Christchurch, Project Jonah reported that they promptly arrived at the scene and successfully refloated it.
"Together with locals and Department of Conservation rangers, the area is being closely monitored for any further signs of the whale."
