January 16th, 2014 (Kerry O’Brien). Despite more than two days of significant effort by the Department of Conservation (DOC), Project Jonah volunteers and the local community caring for, re-floating and attempting to herd the remaining pilot whales back to deep water using boats and people in the water, the survivors of Tuesdays pilot whale stranding in Golden Bay having been joined by a 9th whale and have again re-stranded overnight.
With a full moon last night causing a higher tide, rescuers this morning found the whales stranded much further up the beach making the prospect of a re-float considerably harder.
Unfavourable weather conditions in the form of high winds, which are forecast to get higher during the day, again working against those intent on a rescue.
The animals were this morning found to be stressed and in poor condition. DOC has therefore made the heart rending decision to euthanize rather than…
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