Whales stranded on New Zealand beach

At least 24 whales from the pod of 198 that beached themselves at Farewell Spit had died, and rescue workers were trying to refloat the survivors, the Department of Conservation (DOC) said. Farewell Spit beach, at the northern tip of the South Island, has been the scene of many mass pilot whale strandings over the years. There have been at least eight in the past decade, including two within the space of a week in January last year, although the latest stranding is one of the largest.

Scientists are unclear why they strand themselves in large groups, with some speculating that healthy whales beach themselves while trying to help sick or disoriented family members that are stranded. Others believe the topography of certain places, such as Farewell Spit, somehow scrambles the whales' sonar navigation, causing them to beach. Once stranded, the whales are vulnerable to dehydration and sunburn until rescuers can use the high tide to move their massive weight back into deeper water. Once refloated, the whales often simply swim back ashore and have to be euthanized.

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