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| Almost 200 NZ pilot whales stranded | Almost 200 NZ pilot whales stranded |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Almost 200 pilot whales have stranded themselves on New Zealand's South Island, as rescuers and volunteers raced to refloat them. | Almost 200 pilot whales have stranded themselves on New Zealand's South Island, as rescuers and volunteers raced to refloat them. |
| Two dozen of the 198 whales found on Farewell Spit, Golden Bay, had already died, the conservation department said. | Two dozen of the 198 whales found on Farewell Spit, Golden Bay, had already died, the conservation department said. |
| If the attempt to refloat them on Friday is unsuccessful, rescuers will have to wait 24 hours for high tide to try again. | If the attempt to refloat them on Friday is unsuccessful, rescuers will have to wait 24 hours for high tide to try again. |
| A local official said it is the biggest beaching incident in 10-15 years. | |
| "Because there's just so many whales, there are a couple of spots where a lot would gather together and that's kind of problematic from the aspect that you can't get in there, it's just too dangerous," said Mike Ogle, a local conservation ranger. | |
| Farewell Spit has been the location of many whale strandings. | Farewell Spit has been the location of many whale strandings. |
| Experts say its shallow waters seems to confuse whales and hinder their ability to navigate. | Experts say its shallow waters seems to confuse whales and hinder their ability to navigate. |
| Once they are stranded, whales can suffer from dehydration and sunburn. | Once they are stranded, whales can suffer from dehydration and sunburn. |
| Pilot whales can grow to about 20ft (6 metres) and are the most common species of whale in New Zealand's waters. | Pilot whales can grow to about 20ft (6 metres) and are the most common species of whale in New Zealand's waters. |
| Andrew Lamason from the Department Of Conservation said it could take days to refloat the whales and even then there would be no guarantees they would survive. | Andrew Lamason from the Department Of Conservation said it could take days to refloat the whales and even then there would be no guarantees they would survive. |
| "We've had plenty times in the past where the pods have gone out to sea and turned around and come back again," Mr Lamason said. "We're preparing for a big few days." | "We've had plenty times in the past where the pods have gone out to sea and turned around and come back again," Mr Lamason said. "We're preparing for a big few days." |
| Scientists do not know what causes groups of whales to beach themselves. | Scientists do not know what causes groups of whales to beach themselves. |