Dozens of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins have been found stranded and lifeless on New Zealand beaches
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himTheir death is passing over in silence. Dozens of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins have been found stranded and lifeless on the beaches of New Zealand.
It happened on Sunday when the Department of Conservation was informed of the mass stranding on a remote beach in the Rēkohu / Wharekauri / Chatham Islands. Back then, 97 pilot whales and 3 bottlenose dolphins were found stranded, although 26 were still alive.
Unfortunately their conditions were very serious there was nothing to do. Department of Conservation biodiversity forest ranger Jemma Welch said the 26 poor animals were euthanized. Also in the following days other dead animals arrived on the beaches.
Diver and photographer Sam Wild was one of the first to spot the animals on a beach north of the main island of Chatham. He said it was a horrifying and touching scene:
We had a pretty emotional day here on the Chathams documenting a pilot whale stranding that came in yesterday. If you…
Posted by Sam in the Wild on Monday, November 23, 2020
Also of concern is the fact that the Chatham Islands are remote and their beaches are not crowded.
A few more images from the drone of today’s grim scenes.More videos on my Instagram for the next 24hrs – saminthewild_
Posted by Sam in the Wild on Monday, November 23, 2020
What caused all these animals to die?
It is not yet known for sure but investigations are underway. The hypothesis is that some members of the pack have followed their ailing leader to the mainland, but it could also have been the fault of predators and extreme weather conditions.
Wild said it happens every year or two on the islands though. It is a "hot spot" for the mass stranding of pilot whales. In 1918, about 1000 animals similarly died in the Chatham Islands.
Representatives of the Indigenous Hokotehi Moriori Trust and Ngāti Mutunga or Wharekauri Iwi Trust joined the DOC staff on Sunday and performed a karakia, a prayer, to honor the spirit of the animals.
Australia also recently experienced a similar event. In September, more than 450 pilot whales ran aground in Tasmania, resulting in the state's largest ever mass death.
Sources of reference: Department of Conservation, RNZ,
READ also:
- New Zealand cetacean massacre: dozens of pilot whales died after being beached
- 380 pilot whales died in the worst mass stranding in Australian history
- Hundreds of dolphins and pilot whales slaughtered in the Faroe Islands
