WELLINGTON (XINHUA) – There have been two mass strandings of pilot whales on New Zealand’s Chatham Islands in the past two days, according to Project Jonah New Zealand, an organisation for whales and dolphins’ protection and rescue.
“Sadly, there has been a second mass stranding of pilot whales on the Chatham Islands, this time on Rangiauria/Pitt Island, about 40 kilometres south from the stranding over the weekend,” Project Jonah New Zealand said yesterday.
Reports suggest up to 250 whales in this second stranding event. A Department of Conservation (DOC) team is being mobilised from the Chatham Islands in response.
The Chatham Islands are a challenging spot for stranding response, known for great white sharks, remote beaches, and a resident population of fewer than 800 people. These factors sadly meant the whales alive on discovery were euthanised by the DOC, according to the Project Jonah New Zealand.
This incident followed a mass pilot whale stranding on the Chatham Islands on Sunday when 215 whales were involved, many of which had died.
