Tragedy at Ruakaka beach: 40 whales stranded, rescuers persevere
At Ruakaka Beach in New Zealand, 40 stranded whales were discovered. Local residents and rescuers joined forces to assist the animals and prevent further incidents.
Photo: pixabay.com
On November 24, a mass stranding of whales occurred at Ruakaka Beach, New Zealand: 40 pilot whales, also known as grind whales, were found on the shore, as reported by the Department of Conservation (DOC).
The event attracted attention from local residents, DOC representatives, and members of the local Patuharakeke tribe, who arrived at the scene.
Early on November 25, a DOC team returned to the beach to monitor the situation. There have been no reports of further strandings so far, but surveillance of the coastline will continue throughout the day. Rescuers urge residents of the Bream Bay area to remain vigilant and immediately report new strandings via the hotline.
According to Joel Lauterbach, DOC Operations Manager in the region, the rescue operation brought together hundreds of people. “The involvement of everyone showed the deep connection people have with the marine environment. We are grateful to Patuharakeke for their leadership, as well as to the volunteers and Project Jonah for their support,” he said.
Four whales that did not survive the stranding will remain on the beach under the supervision of DOC and tribal representatives. The organization Project Jonah is actively engaging marine medics, who conduct training for effective response to such incidents.
New Zealand is known for frequent whale strandings, with an average of up to 85 incidents per year. Scientists attribute this to natural phenomena, but such incidents require swift action to preserve the marine ecosystem.
Earlier, it was reported that scientists in New Zealand identified a new species of dolphin, which lived approximately 22–23 million years ago and was distinguished by its unusually curved teeth.
It was also reported that, as of October 1, 2024, New Zealand implemented significant increases in visa fees and tourist taxes, affecting most foreign visitors.