It’s a race against the tide on a lonely stretch of New Zealand’s South Island.
Six pilot whales are already dead — and 15 more are fighting for their lives after washing up on Farewell Spit.
The mass stranding began Thursday when around 55 whales ended up on the beach. Most managed to swim back out.
But for reasons still unclear, 15 returned to shore and are now scattered along a kilometre of sand.
Volunteers from marine charity Project Jonah are working nonstop, hauling buckets of water to keep the whales cool under the sun.
“When the tide comes in, we’ll have to move very fast,” said Project Jonah’s Louisa Hawkes.
“The plan is to bring them together, form a tight group, and guide them into deeper water.”
Rescue Effort Intensifies
That group approach matters. Pilot whales are deeply social animals.
Rescuers hope their instinct to stay together will help them navigate back to sea.
Help is coming from all sides. Conservation rangers, boats and drones have been deployed, and more volunteers are being urged to join the effort.
Sadly, Farewell Spit is no stranger to scenes like this. Its shallow, shifting tides make it a natural “whale trap.”
In 2017, more than 400 whales stranded here.
For now, the clock is ticking — and the ocean holds the final say.
