Nearly 200 Pilot Whales Stranded On New Zealand Beach

Nearly 200 pilot whales stranded themselves on New Zealand’s South Island on Friday, with hordes of rescuers rushing to the remote area in a bid to guide them back to sea.

Pilot whales grow to about 20 feet (6 meters), and large strandings are common during the New Zealand summer. Experts describe Farewell Spit, located on the northwest corner of South Island, as a whale trap due to the way its shallow waters seem to confuse whales and diminish their ability to navigate.

The Huffington Post