DOZENS OF WHALES STRANDED

WELLINGTON, NOVEMBER 5 /SRNA-Reuters/ – Dozens of pilot whales have been found stranded on a beach on New Zealand's North Island, so rescuers are attempting to return several survivors to the water, the Department of Conservation said.

Statement reads that at least 20 whales are stranded along the Ngawi coastline, near Cape Palliser, the southernmost point of the North Island.

So far, two whales have been successfully returned to the sea.

Local residents said that around 50 whales were stranded along the coast overnight, Radio New Zealand reported.

Most of the whales have died from their injuries, while volunteers are trying to keep the remaining animals alive and help them stay hydrated using buckets of water and towels.

Whale strandings are common along the coasts of New Zealand and Australia. Large populations of pilot whales inhabit the deep ocean waters surrounding these island nations, but it is still unclear why some individuals become stranded on shore.