The key facts
- About 50 pilot whales stranded in shallow water near Cape Palliser; only four individuals survived
- Earlier, 14 pilot whales from the coast of Ngawi in the Wairarapa region were returned to the water, but all of them later died
- The cause of the mass stranding has not been established; no such cases have occurred in this area since the 1990s
Mass stranding at Cape Palliser
In New Zealand, about 50 pilot whales stranded in shallow water among rocks near Cape Palliser in the southeast of the North Island. This was reported by Life.ru. Most of the animals died despite rescuers' attempts to return them to the ocean: volunteers poured water over the pilot whales and tried to help them reach the water. According to the organization Project Jonah, four individuals survived — rescuers hope to return them to the sea at high tide. Video from the scene appeared on social media.
The previous rescue attempt proved unsuccessful
Earlier, according to the same outlet, about 50 pilot whales were found in the morning on the coast of Ngawi in the Wairarapa region. At that time, local residents and rescuers managed to return 14 animals to the water, but all of them later died. Thus, the final figure of four survivors refers to the overall stranding situation, not to the first group of rescued animals.
The cause of the stranding is unknown
Experts have not yet determined the cause of the mass stranding. Scientists suggest the incident is related to the behavior of pilot whales: these cetaceans live in close-knit groups and often follow one another, even onto dangerous shallows. According to specialists, no such cases have occurred in this area since the 1990s. Additional coverage of incidents is published in the Incidents section on Life.ru.
