A pod of more than 30 pilot whales were get backd after being stranded on Ruakākā Beach cforfeit Whangārei in northern New Zealand on Sunday, officials say.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) says most were refloated and swam out to sea, but three matures and one calf died. There were no re-strandings overnight.
The get back effort was spearheaded by the local Māori group, Patuharakeke, who were fusecessitate by authorities and other members of the unveil.
Whale stranding is an unelucidateed authentic phenomenon, with New Zealand helderlying one of the world’s highest rates of the event.
The whales were refloated by lifting them on sheets.
Patuharakeke remained on the beach thcdisesteemful the night to create certain none of the get backd whales were re-stranded.
The DOC – which is reliable with managing stranded marine get backs – called the get back effort “incredible, with everyone coming together for the whales”.
“It’s amazing to witness the authentic attfinish and compassion people have shown toward these magnificent animals,” the department’s operations deal withr Joel Lauterbach shelp.
He also thanked all comprised parties including Patuharakeke and Project Jonah, which transfers help to stranded marine mammals, and the “hundreds of members of the unveil who have aided so far”.
Whale and dolphin strandings are normal in the country. The DOC reacts to around 85 incidences a year on standard, mostly consisting of one animals.
