Refloating whales at Farewell Spit
Locals and visitors from far afield helped the stranded whales. Photo: Supplied.
The fast response of the 200 volunteers from all over the country was crucial in saving many of the 84 pilot whales stranded in Golden Bay over the weekend of 4-6 February, said Department of Conservation area manager John Mason.
“In terms of the whole experience, we were very pleased with the response from local helpers, visitors and Project Jonah. DOC staff cannot deal with such an event by themselves and we rely and appreciate all the help we received from the volunteers and everybody else who contributed in their own ways, from baking scones for the helpers or offering transport, accommodation or the use of toilets.
On the Friday afternoon, the first whales were tended with buckets and sheets to keep them cool, but were left to fend for themselves overnight and to “let nature takes its course” as, at the onset of darkness and with the incoming tide, it became too dangerous to stay with the animals.
Most whales were refloated and separated into two and then three groups along the 10-kilometre stretch from the base of Farewell Spit and Triangle Flat to Pakawau, but restranded three times over the weekend.
“They swam up and down and parallel to the beach but would not go out any further,” said John. “We tracked them by boat and it was obvious that they were to restrand. Then, on Sunday, we refloated them again and herded them out into deeper water and the three groups reunited.”
The whales, a mixed group of males, females, juveniles and calves, communicated throughout in high-pitched squeaks, and one whale gave birth during the ordeal. Motupipi resident Roland Toder, skipper of one of two boats used to herd the whales offshore, observed their social interaction closely and said he had been deeply moved by the experience.
“It was a real effort to herd the whales out to sea and I had two very hard days with rough seas and quite a big swell, but when they reunited, it really threw me emotionally,” said Roland. “There was one juvenile whale, about three metres in length, which was clearly distressed and had trouble breathing, and with every breath it screamed and fell onto one side. Then a group of two or three whales came, supported it and brought it into the middle of the group.”
On Sunday evening, the whales threatened a repeat stranding after most DOC staff and volunteers had packed up their gear. Project Jonah volunteers, however, managed to keep them off the beaches by forming a line in the water and shooing them back to sea.
By midday on Monday, 17 whales had died, and 67 had returned to deeper water about 2.5km offshore. DOC staff remain on full alert in case the whales beach again.
Pilot whales grow to four to six metres long and are the most common species of whale seen in New Zealand waters. Strandings of pilot whales are not uncommon around Golden Bay, and the last major stranding was in 2009, when a total of 105 pilot whales beached at Farewell Spit.
Ina Holst
