World
        

Odd News

120 stranded whales feared dead in New Zealand

Updated: 2011-02-21 16:50

(Xinhua/Agencies)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

120 stranded whales feared dead in New Zealand

A pod of pilot whales are seen stranded on Mason Bay on Stewart Island February 21, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

WELLINGTON - New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) officers have had to kill 48 pilot whales that were among a pod of 120 whales beached in a remote part of New Zealand's Stewart Island on Sunday.

Related readings:
120 stranded whales feared dead in New Zealand Humpback whale stranded on beach in Brazil
120 stranded whales feared dead in New Zealand Japan agency warned not to accept whale meat gifts
120 stranded whales feared dead in New Zealand Japan's whaling season halted by activists
120 stranded whales feared dead in New Zealand Japanese whalers, activists clash off Antarctica

The whales were discovered at the southern end of Mason Bay by two overseas visitors, who raised the alarm.

Two DOC officers were flown to the scene, and found the whales in water, but with the tide receding.

One of the officers, Brent Beaven said half the whales were already dead, and the others would have soon perished in the hot, dry conditions, Radio New Zealand reported on Monday.

With the tide out and little hope of floating the survivors for up to 12 hours, the decision was made to put down the survivors, he said.

The whales will be left to decompose naturally on the beach, due to the remoteness of the site.

   Previous Page 1 2 3 Next Page  

Specials

Earthquake Hits Japan

A massive 8.8 magnitude quake hit the northeast coast of Japan on March 11,2011.

NPC & CPPCC sessions

Lawmakers and political advisers gather in Beijing to discuss major issues.

Pictures: quake aftermath

A massive earthquake hit Japan hard, leaving thousands dead.

Water & Luck
Self-made aircraft
Venetian Carnival