Mass Stranding in New Zealand Kills Six Whales

Six whales have died on a remote beach in New Zealand’s South Island following a mass stranding, while volunteers work urgently to save 15 others that remain alive.

About 55 pilot whales washed up on Farewell Spit on Thursday. Most were able to return to the sea, but 15 have restranded and are scattered along roughly 1 km of the beach.

Project Jonah, a marine mammal rescue charity, shared video showing volunteers pouring buckets of water over the whales to keep them cool.

«When the tide comes in, we have to act quickly to gather these whales and move them to deeper waters,» said Louisa Hawkes from Project Jonah.

Efforts are continuing against the clock to prevent further deaths as the tide rises and conditions on the beach worsen.