Whales stranded in New Zealand
- 12 years ago
Volunteers are fighting to save dozens of pilot whales stranded on New Zealand's South Island.
Ninety-nine whales were stranded at Farewell Spit on the northern coast on Monday.
Those who survived the night are the focus of desperate efforts to have them refloated.
The volunteers are out at sea -- giving the whales aid in the shallow waters.
SOUNDBITE: Volunteer (English):
"The options are just to continue to first aid them as the water goes away from around them and to look after them and finally let them do what they are going to do tonight, over the next high tide."
At least 34 whales have already died on the beach.
Some had refloated but came back to shore and became stranded again.
Now the plan is to use one of the whales as a lure.
SOUNDBITE: Kimberly Muncaster of Project Jonah (English):
"That pontoon is going to be used to actually lure the other whales out. One whale will be placed in the pontoon, we'll take that in the direction that we want the others to head and hopefully it will act as a magnet for the other whales to follow."
This is the third time this summer that whales became stranded.
But hopes are high that they can be saved. Last month, 18 pilot whales were successfully refloated.
Michaela Cabrera, Reuters.
Ninety-nine whales were stranded at Farewell Spit on the northern coast on Monday.
Those who survived the night are the focus of desperate efforts to have them refloated.
The volunteers are out at sea -- giving the whales aid in the shallow waters.
SOUNDBITE: Volunteer (English):
"The options are just to continue to first aid them as the water goes away from around them and to look after them and finally let them do what they are going to do tonight, over the next high tide."
At least 34 whales have already died on the beach.
Some had refloated but came back to shore and became stranded again.
Now the plan is to use one of the whales as a lure.
SOUNDBITE: Kimberly Muncaster of Project Jonah (English):
"That pontoon is going to be used to actually lure the other whales out. One whale will be placed in the pontoon, we'll take that in the direction that we want the others to head and hopefully it will act as a magnet for the other whales to follow."
This is the third time this summer that whales became stranded.
But hopes are high that they can be saved. Last month, 18 pilot whales were successfully refloated.
Michaela Cabrera, Reuters.