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AP
In this Tuesday photo provided by Project Jonah, stranded pilot whales are helped by volunteers at Farewell Spit on New Zealand's South Island.
Some 33 long-finned pilot whales that were refloated Wednesday off a New Zealand beach with the help of volunteers became stranded again Thursday and will have to be euthanized, officials told TVNZ.
“Unfortunately the stranded whales are now also further along the Spit and on the extreme boundary of our ability to reach them for another rescue attempt,” Kimberly Muncaster, CEO of the marine-mammal rescue group Project Jonah, told the TV station.
"The Department of Conservation has decided they will have to be put down."
John Mason, a Department of Conservation official, said the whales were physically deteriorating and in distress.
The whales were part of a larger pod of 99 whales that beached on Monday at Farewell Spit in Golden Bay on the South Island.
Volunteers have refloated surviving whales twice only to have them restrand. Each time, more whales died.
A total of 82 whales will now have died since the stranding on Monday, according to TVNZ.
Pilot whales grow to about 20 feet, and large strandings are common during the New Zealand summer. Experts describe Farewell Spit as a whale trap due to the way its shallow waters seem to confuse whales and diminish their ability to navigate.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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Once these Pilot whales decide to start beaching themselves there isn't much you can do. We have them here in Florida and you can drag them offshore, they just keep coming back.
Sounds like they have that illegal alien mentality ..ya drag em back to Mexico; they still keep coming back...jobs maybe? at seaworld?
They will do jobs that American Whales won't do...
Hey, Why can't we sell them to the Japanese.
They are very good eating...
Just wait for evolution to take place I guess, one day they will suddenly walk :)
I have pictures of stranded Pilot whales in Florida. To the point though, there has been success withhelping the whales but it took patience and time with the rescuers spending hours with the whales. Maybe that is what we are missing, patience and time.
The whales brains are fried from active sonar which is used by military vessels.Its pretty difficult to prove because these vessels don't give out their positions or courses.
there is an amount of money that they can put to save these whales
it just shows how unimportant a single life is
nothing is impossible, its just if they are willing to help
greoge - if you are going to make ridiculous statements, cite your source. Better yet, take off the tin foil hat, go back to your parents' basement and take a long nap.
We can euthanize whales that are stuck on the beach and have no chance for life without outside help or influence, but a man in Britain with locked-in syndrome has to go to court to get assisted suicide? What's wrong with this logic?
George, if it were sonar, don't you think more than just pilot whales would be affected?
Philip, other types of whales are being affected by noise pollution and sonar. That's why US Federal Courts moved to restrict the ways the US Navy tests their LFA sonar. Now, whether sonar was an issue in this case is particular incident is something I couldn't tell you, but it is certainly possible. The science behind the concept is known, proven and unfortunately, repeatable.
@Thomas Boyce That was Larmarck's view of evolution in the late 1700's/early 1800's
We don't morph to fit the environment. The environment selects out those who are built to live to reproduce over thousands of years. (Which is Darwin's theory, which in no way excludes or includes religion, btw. You can believe and be intelligent)
Most definitely not always; although always worth a try.
They'll be eatin' good tonight.
Actually Thomas their evolution has been going towards life in water. Their ancestors were land dwellers as evidence by the vestigial hind leg bones.
Couldn't they dredge or deepen Farewell Spit, if this is the cause of the problem? Or for that matter put up a barrier that would prevent the whales from being able to enter the Farewell Spit?
If the same thing keeps happening over and over why not do something to correct the problem, unless there is some use for whale carcass.... On the other hand could this be the purpose of not finding a resolution of this problem, the fact that whaling is being outlawed? hmmm
We can send a man to the moon, have a space station yet whales beaching themselves over and over in the hundreds no solution can be found to assist these creatures by preventing them from beaching..... hmm
Peace....
for all of you fools on here, bashing the New Zealander's for 'not trying hard enough', 'not spending enough money' etc, scroll down and read the post #7.9 from Annette-2184663. a New Zealander. and then maybe you will feel like the morons you are for not (apparently) reading the article very carefully which detailed the efforts that have been made all week to save these whales. and morons, also, for not bothering to do any other reading to back up your flimsy-as**ed opinions.
no wonder the rest of the world believes that America is populated by rude, ignorant, absolute idiots- apparently we are
Allie, take a chill pill. That's why their called opinions. Everybody has one. As for the rest of the world believing one thing or another, that's a blanket statement on your part. One could call that flimsy-a$$ed.
Sounds like these Pilots could use a navigator.... :D
With all the time, experts and effort devoted, (these are small whales) and Helicopter Pilots with the right helicopters and slings could have ferried all the whales to deep water where they have a chance. The exhausted, disoriented whales in shallow water have very little chance of survival.
Suicide?
Recalculating...Swim 400 ft and make a U turn...
Hi,I-love-whales&there-so-beautiful!Isn't-their-anything-that-can-be-done-to-save-them?I'm-a-collecter-of-stuffed&glass-whales!-wish-I-could-collect-the-big-guys.Please-keep-us-informed!Thankyou.
@caringsocs: What's with all the Dash's??
Why don't they call the Japanese? That way the whales won't go to waste. These whales are being culled by nature (survival of the fittest) but that doesn't mean they are useless.
It is the sonar. When whales are hit with these sound waves, it riggers them helpless and without a way to navigate. It probably is suicide and we are the cause. Go figure. Human beings are the worst, parasitic animal on the planet, capable of killing other animals and ourselves. That is the way we are headed. The military and scientists know that the sonar does this and yet, they don't care. Just like oil and every other thing we are using that is destroying the living planet we live in. Got news for you though. The planet will be here LONG after we are gone.
Take a look at Farewell Spit on a satellite map and it looks like a catchers mitt.
Too stupid to stop swimming ashore is too stupid to live, lets all have whale for dinner.
and the lower class, the handicap, the diseased, and bryan for dessert
It like shooting fish in a buket. I like the show Whale Wars. Watching those hippies battle with the Japs. I always cheer for the Japs because those hippies have no business being out there.
They're not hippies... Just idiots with too much time on their hands.
Hippies would be smoking weed and growing facial hair on the couch. Not sure which is better.
Maybe they have weed and couches on the boat. I would.
Yes, Timmy. We understand your desperate need for attention. Now, run along and cheer the extinction of a few other species, mkay little guy?
What very sad people you both are.....
@Pedestrian - don't be such a tool. Dude expresses his opinion, and here you come, toolin' up the place.
Timmy Jim, you are such a gracious bastard; I'm sure the Japs appreciate your charity.
selfmade13...how do u grow facial hair on the couch???
I hope the Japs sink those stup!d f'kers one day...I'd pay to watch that on pay-per-view. Those people are terrorists and pirates...they need an ass whuppin'.
As for the pilot whales, it's sad what's happening to be sure but it's not like they're being stoned to death for talking to a man that they're not married to. Whales are smarter than muslims.
Imma athiest
BUT if you ask me, even I will tell you, you will go to hell for saying that
I'll take a stoned caring mind over a one track locked in hate forever mind any day. Sitting at a computer chair looking at every topic as a reason to attack something...nice glass house you built. You can't even get mad at someone like that - they do more damage to them selves than my words ever could..wonder what went so wrong in their life to end up that way?
Browenstien. Congratulations, I didnt think it were possible to use this story to spew your hatred and dehumanize a quarter of the worlds population, but you totally pulled it off. Whats next, concentration camps, thats usually the next step right?
Concentration camps are the third step, orphans are the second
Never ever thought I'd see "Japs" and "hippies" in the same sentence. The intertubes are a wonderful thing...
A whale suicide cult?
Military sonar likely has punctured their eardrums.
That happens? I guess we are to blame for everything.
Lee, I'm sure the US navy wouldn't admit it, but I'll bet they're in the area of this stranding. Another wonderful thing Bush and his warmongers did for our country when he authorized the use of this killer sonar. I'm sure the whales ears and brains are like scrambled eggs.
Color me purple I think your brains are scrambled also.
Yeah, right! Humans suck and whales should live forever. Never ate whale before, dolphin yes, tuna yes, whale...not yet!
thats nasty!
Justice For Caylee 1:
You have eaten whale?! Or the idea just repulses you? I've had eel before...best meat I've eaten yet, next to ribeye.
Sarcasticus1 - you have never eaten dolphin, the mammal, in the USA because they are protected. You have eaten dolphin, the fish. You are just as ignorant as the French woman sitting next to me in a Florida restaurant complaining loudly how terrible it was that they had dolphin on the menu. Dolphin is the name of a fish as well as a mammal. We don't serve the mammal in this country.
The military sonar has been doing that for thousands of years? Damn UFOs..
George is actually correct. Dolphins need their sonar to navigate and if there are any radar waves interfering with their systems they will go off course and become stranded. Strandings are quite common here on Cape Cod due to the Pave Paws system. Unfortunately these systems are not going away any time soon. It is not only the dolphins and whales that are affected , humans are as well. There is current speculation that Bi-polar, ADHD, Autism, and other malfunctioning of the human brain is caused by electrical current and radiation. It is well known that children should not sleep in rooms where the electricity enters the home. The risk- Leukemia.
Sarcasticus1: Move to Japan then, they are ignorant too. Oh, and humans do suck because we have yet to become the solution but, instead continue to act the fool.
UMGator: Thank you for clarifying the dolphin bit lol. I began to wonder if it would be said.
For the love of all things holy!! I have never posted on one of these things but, I could not help myself this time. People shouting conspiracy theories and B.S. Why do people have useless jabber to post but, no helpful intelligent input?
People babble without trying to be part of the change or solution all day on these topics but, they can't find spell check for squat. Seemingly, they are oblivious to the red squiggly underline as well.
Wake up people! We are killing our planet. The whales have been affected by a myriad of factors. Pollution, slaughter, and changes to the ecosystem to name but a few. I can't see why the D.O.C. can't relocate the whales further out to sea instead of closer inland. At least a few of them so they can have a chance. The whale populations are decimated enough. Let's give them a chance instead of a harpoon to the skull for a change huh?
Peace out!
UMGator:
If I've eaten tuna out of a can, then, at some point, I've eaten dolphin...most everybody complaining about the Japanese fishing industry says so. But if I ever do get the chance to eat whale...you can bet your bottom dollar I will.
Holly Harrison:
You may not believe this, but, I was born in Japan. Your comment was extraordinarily funny to me. I sincerely hope you find your happiness trying to save the whales, suicidal and otherwise.
Lee:
You've received several votes for an erroneous statement. Many people, however, agree with the "intent" of your post. Whales do not have "eardrums" or tympanic membranes. They detect vibrations and sonar does, in fact, affect this.
There is in fact scientific based research that suggests that military sonar does have some disruptive affects to cetaceans. They're just not sure just why or how though. Just imagine being a doctor attempting to ascertain what's troubling a Lama, unless you're doctor Dolittle, it's going to be a very one sided affair.
I am no Scientist, but I have believed for a long while that Navy work has some thing to do with SOME of the beaching! No matter in my opinion, we need to do what we can and with the knowledge we have to help the whales until we understand otherwise.
Dolphinfish (one word) = mahi mahi. Dolphins and porpoises = mammals of the cetacean category.
I came here to mention that it is likely sonar from ships that is affecting their ability to determine direction. I remember seeing a documentary about how the sonar can be heard by whales for many many miles across the ocean.
Here are some links about whales and sonar:
One more way in which man, the "supreme" animal (joke) is killing off all the earth's species. Many animals use the Earth's natural magnetic and electric fields as a part of their migrating and traveling systems. We fill the air with our noise, electric and magnetic pollution which must have an effect on these animals. Radio, AM, FM, cellular, sonar, radar and other kinds of wavelengths fill the atmosphere. They are constant, 24/7 and the volume is getting greater every year. These animals are going somewhere and whatever function they have to determine direction is being duped by, perhaps cell towers or some other broadcast. By instinct they head for the beach (in this case) and you pull them off and unless they are removed out of the grip of that particular field, they will come right back. This is my theory.
As far as man being supreme, the human animal can, at one and the same time, be the most beautiful and the most heinous species ever to be born. We're not supreme. We're just the only species that has the capability to destroy ourselves and the entire earth, and we seem to be doing just that.
Georgie, if you own a cellular phone, any AM/FM radio in you vehicle or home, television, land line telephone, electrical in your home, computers, or use any other form of modern technology; you are just blowing hot air and are totally hypocritical to your own post.
Well georgie I'm sure you believe in evolution, maybe these whales should evolve.
Georgieboy:
We'd (humans) feel sorry for you and your family if you committed suicide. Animals would not. Can you see a little difference in the species now? I hope you have a good rest of your day!
Georgieboy,
I agree with your assessment about the magnetic and electrical fields.
I am wondering...since we have been in the midst of a large solar flare..CME, rated M9...one level down from an X class Solar event, if this might have some to do with the whales becoming disoriented? Peak, I believe was yesterday. Coincidence? I wonder if there may be other incidents with other migratory species.
I get what your saying about humans, also.....so sad...
Sarcasticus1, animals feed emotional pain for the death of others as well. I've seen instances where a bird would stay with another dead bird, probably spouse or something for hours before leaving. Then there are stories where dogs will grieve by an owners dead body or grave, again for hours.
So I believe that animals do feel something when a loved one, or owner dies.
Well turn off your radio. Turn off your laptop's WIFI. Turn off the sonar of the ships that protect the very freedom you have to say the things you are saying. Unless you are a very intelligent chimp, I would bet you are "man" like the rest of us. Whales got beached. If I get old and wander out into the woods a few times I hope they blame it on the whales.
we're_pathetic:
Your moniker says it all...thanks for sharing.
I belive they can do something about but because is just whales they won't spend the $ saving them..sad!
I'm a New Zealander and whales strandings happen here nearly every summer. It has nothing to do with money, it is because the whales keep beaching themselves, they are in distress, and every time they rebeach themselves, the chances of survival become smaller. They have been put down so their distress calls don't encourage the remainder of the pod to come and look for them.
Volunteers come out by the hundreds every time this happens, we love our ocean and everything in it. We are islands, and the sea is part of us. No where in NZ are you more than a few hours away from the beach. Dolphins, whales and other marine life are all part of our heritage and we do our utmost to look out for them.
Whales beach themselves for several reasons, one is they could have been chasing squid into the bay and the tide there goes out very quickly catching them out.
Don't judge us until you know why we do what we do.
Oh, and whaling is illegal here, the carcasses will be buried. Maori (Indiginous people) have the indiginous right to claim whale bone for their exquisite carving, but I haven't heard if any iwi (tribe) is going to do this this time.
New Zealanders fight hard to prevent whaling, the very idea of it turns our stomachs and to have to do this is just heart wrenching.
Damn! if this is the case Darwins theory of evolution is screwed.
You would have thought those whales would have gotten WiFi by now.
Annette, I for one appreciate your post. It is so sad when animals have to be put down, and it is disheartening, but it is also sometimes for the best. Whales are such amazing creatures and I love to watch them. This I am sure is sad for ALL of the people in NZ, and we should all trust that the people making these decisions are knowledgable and know what is best.
And to some of you making comments about illegal alien mentality and good eatin, you suck.
@Annette
Thanks for a wonderful post.
The details and insight were very helpful.
Why would someone name a whale that continuously does this a "pilot"?
Are these the lemmings of the sea?
Hilarious!
Maybe they're Iatalian Cruiseship Captains .. ( ? ) ..
While i find it sad that these mammals have to die...and i hate hearing stories about the whales beaching themselves...I find this comment amusing.
auto (pilot) malfunction, gps recalculating...
ok...this one is funny.
oh and this comments is amusing too...sad story...amusing comment.
What's wrong with those funky whales were they following one of those cruise ships again ?
Drive posts or drop boulders in to prevent them from grounding themselves. It is simple stupid.
@Ursamajor
Seriously, drive posts or drop boulders along several hundred miles of coastline? is that your thought? or do you think? wow...
We tried that on the Mexican Border.
They just climb over or burrow underneath.
its not the end of the world again?
As easy as kicking dead whales down the beach.
why let good pilot whale meat go to waste?
I wonder what the whales did before man was around to try and save them?
Oh whale!
Maybe they are looking for the Prince of Whales?
Check their blowholes for golf balls.
Why? Has Kramer been hanging out in New Zealand?
Free Willy!
That's WILLIES, Plural.
Too bad this happens so often. May be just way thier nature works. Possibly cause of human activity in the ocean, they have relied on sound waves for thousands/millions of years.
You can lead a whale to land but you can´t get him back in the water.
The last time I saw this many stupid people was when I watched the Democratic National Convention.
Then you should watch the Republican National Convention this year. I assure you, you will see ALOT more stupid people there than the DNC.
Daniel - I'll bet those at the Republican National Convention are smart enough to know that "a lot" is two words, not one.
wow really? It is "A LOT" not ALLOT. *slaps forehead* Will it never end? And it's "You're off topic" not YOUR.
Will anyvet do an autopsy to determine why? It is easy to see if eardrums were punctured. Or just nobody cares? So humans will be solely inhabitants untill they kill each other like they kill all animals?
How can be anybody joking about this?
It's called sarcasm, maybe you've heard of it. Everything doesn't need to be so serious.
@ onermailliw, you need to shut your face you sound like a complete idiot and you have no respect for the creatures of this earth
BeBe, I am willing to bet a vet or vets will do necropsy's on some of them to check how healthy they were. They will either find something revealing or be stumped themselves about it all. It's more than sad that some people seem to think something like this is joke worthy. Sure, we all have to lighten up sometimes. But poking fun at great creatures of the seas and earth that are becoming extinct and/or very few left of many species because millions upon millions of humans are ignorant of what's is going on with nature, or their habitats and it's mostly human ways that are destroying beautiful creatures refuges because of the almighty dollar, is just plain ignorant. These people probably make fun of other people without a bit of conscious embarrassment of their hurtful words and actions.The world needs more sensitive Souls now more than ever. IMHO, I don't see that happening in the near future.
Very sad - I'm stunned at how many of you think this is something to joke about.
sell off the whalemeat to the japanese for recovering the expenses of there own beaching ! and use the money to protect healthy whales that stand a chance for survival
People that joke about this are just messed up. So sorry for all the volunteers that have worked so hard to save these whales. It must be heartbreaking.
Don't even understand the reasoning behind this & how it's out of their ability to relocate them. Humans relocate animals all the time. Yet this it too hard. Something's a little fishy (no pun intended) about this.