Project Jonah stated that it was “a very sad outcome after a huge day.”
Local news outlet Stuff reported on Monday that the dead whales have been secured on a cut-off area of the beach to decompose naturally.
The carcasses were also blessed by members of Manawhenua ki Mohua, an organization representing indigenous Maori people in the golden Bay that is mandated to receive fi
Mass Strandings are a regular occurrence at the remote beach. In 2017, 400 pilot whales were stranded on the beach, making it the largest stranding in New Zealand for 100 years. Over 10 pilot whale stranding have occurred there in the last 15 years, according to AFP.
“As heartbreaking as it is, whale strandings are a natural phenomenon,” the Department of Conservation said in a Facebook post.
Scientists are still unable to determine exactly what causes mass strandings, but some wildlife officials believe whales strand at Farewell Spit beach because it creates a shallow seabed with large sand flats, causing whales who venture into the area to become confused and disoriented.
