Over 100 whales die in New Zealand

Wellington, February 21 (AFP): More than 100 pilot whales died in a mass stranding at a remote New Zealand beach, conservation officials said today. Hikers yesterday reported finding 107 whales beached on Stewart Island, off the South Island’s southwest coast, a Department of Conservation (DoC) spokesman said.
He said some of the whales were already dead and DOC rangers had to euthanise the 48 remaining survivors as there was no prospect of refloating them. “We were quickly aware that it would be at least 10 to 12 hours before we could attempt to refloat them and that given the hot, dry conditions many more would soon perish,” he said.