Tragic, nearly 100 pilot whales have died after becoming stranded on New Zealand’s Chatham Islands on Wednesday.
As cited News24xx.com from TOI, the great white sharks were believed to be stalking the rough sea waters as 97 of the toothed whales and three dolphins died after getting stuck at Waitangi West Beach.
The islands sit 800km east of New Zealand’s South Island, with mass strandings common.
Biodiversity ranger Jemma Welch said 26 of the whales were still alive.
The small wales are very sociable creatures but for centuries have been susceptible to hunters for their bones, meat, and oil.
It is not known exactly why whales become beached.
