"Nearly 200 pilot whales stranded on New Zealand beach" Associated Press February 14, 2015
SYDNEY — Nearly 200 pilot whales stranded themselves on New Zealand’s South Island on Friday, and about 80 conservation workers and volunteers rushed to the remote area in a bid to guide them back to sea.
Two dozen of the 198 whales had already died despite efforts to save the creatures, which were found stranded on Farewell Spit, a spot known for whale beachings, Department of Conservation area manager Andrew Lamason said.
Even if the whales were refloated, that was no guarantee they would survive, he said: ‘‘We’ve had plenty of times in the past where the pods have gone out to sea and turned around and come back again.”
Pilot whales grow to about 20 feet and large strandings are common during the New Zealand summer. Experts describe the spit as a whale trap due to the way its shallow waters seem to confuse whales and diminish their ability to navigate.
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Related:
"About 140 pilot whales that stranded themselves on a remote stretch of New Zealand beach have died, but rescuers are hoping the remaining 60 or so will survive after they were refloated, an official said Saturday. The geography of Farewell Spit on the South Island seems to work against whales, which often become stranded there (AP)."
Then the coverage simply washed away with the rest of the whales.
UPDATE: Tufts student, parents die in New Zealand car accident
