Stranded Whales Driven Back Into Sea
Hundreds of stranded whales that ran aground overnight on Great Barrier Island near Auckland were driven back out to sea Wednesday by the island’s inhabitants in an attempt to save their lives.
About one-quarter of the school of nearly 300 pilot whales died on the beach, but waving and shouting residents kept the rest away from shore after survivors were refloated by the high tide.
It was the largest mass stranding in New Zealand. Islanders attended rescue lectures after 140 whales were stranded on Great Barrier Island last year.
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