A pod of 45, consisting of false killer whales and bottlenose dolphins, that were stranded and injured on the shore in New Zealand yesterday afternoon were euthanized.
New Zealand Department of Conservation Gisborne Operations Manager Matt Tong said that locals tried to refloat the pod after the water level rose, but they became trapped in the reef area after a while, and some of them were already dead. “They were clearly suffering, and euthanizing them was the most humane thing to do,” Tong said.
Whales and dolphins wash ashore on the New Zealand coasts due to reasons such as illness, disorientation, geographical features, tides, being chased by a predator, or severe weather conditions.