73 pilot whales were found stranded on Karikari Beach in New Zealand. Of the 73 whales, 58 were already dead before they were discovered. The beach is in a remote location, which is believed to be the reason so many pilot whales died before being discovered. It appears that the whales beached themselves during the night.
An attempt to refloat and save the remaining 15 living beached pilot whales failed yesterday. A second attempt, using heavy equipment to move the whales, will be made today.
40 volunteers, including individuals from the Far North Whale Rescue group, attempted to re-float the 15 surviving whales yesterday at high tide. The whales were reported as being in “fairly poor condition” by Kimberly Muncaster, chief executive of the Project Jonah whale aid group.
Today, rescue workers plan to use a crane and transporter to relocate the whales, which weigh up to 3,300 pounds each, approximately half a mile to Matai Bay. Mike Davies, Department of Conservation acting area manager, said sea conditions at the bay would be easier and the bay would be more sheltered.
More than 5,000 strandings of whales and dolphins have been recorded around the New Zealand coast since 1840. On the same beach, Karikari Beach, a pod of 101 pilot whales were found stranded in 2007. The Department of Conservation confirmed that New Zealand has one of the world’s highest rates of whale strandings. No determination as to why whales beach themselves has been made by scientists.