Nearly 200 whales stranded along New Zealand coast

According to Department of Conservation officials, at least 198 pilot whales had become stranded on the beaches of New Zealand's South Island. At least 24 of the whales have already died with Conservation officials and local volunteers scrambling to save the remaining individuals.

The pod was stranded on what's called Farewell Spit, a narrow finger of rock and sand extending into the sea off the South Island’s northern tip. The spit, forming the northern boundary of Golden Bay is a stranding hotspot, with currents between New Zealand's two main islands pushing fish and sea mammals onto the hook-shaped strip of land.

Andrew Lamason, spokesman for the Department of Conservation, said rescuers don't currently need extra help from the public, but additional volunteers could be called upon. “Refloating stranded whales is a difficult and potentially dangerous job, so it's important we have the right people on the ground tonight trying to get these whales back to safety," he said. It is predicted more whales are likely to succumb before the situation is resolved.

Stranded whales need cool, wet conditions to survive an extended period while stranded. Unfortunately, the area has been bathed with hot sun since the stranding.” Although some whales have been successfully re-floated, several dozen remain stranded." It hasn't been a great day to be a stranded whale," said Lamason. "This is a big stranding. It's a real challenge.”

It's not clear why or how the whales became stranded in the first place. Some have suggested their echolocation skills aren't well suited for the shallow waters south of the spit, while others claim they may have rushed to aid a few stranded whales only to become trapped themselves. Pilot whales are one of the largest species of oceanic dolphins, with only killer whales larger in size.