About 50 Pilot whales have been stranded at Farewell Spit. Photo / Jo Richards, GB WeeklyClose to 50 long-finned pilot whales are stranded on a remote beach at the top of the South Island. The Department of Conservation (DoC) was first alerted to the mass stranding at the base of Farewell Spit in Golden Bay by a tour operator at 9.30 today. ⚠️ We are responding to 49 long-finned pilot whales that have stranded at Farewell Spit. pic.twitter.com/0bDCxeZvbY — Department of Conservation (@docgovtnz) February 22, 2021The last mass pilot whale stranding on Farewell Spit was in February 2017 when an estimated 600-700 whales were beached.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 22, 2021 01:28 UTC