Whales stranded again on Farewell Spit

Sunday 19 January

7.10am

The Department of Conservation is appealing for volunteers to assist with 73 pilot whales found stranded on Farewell Spit this morning.

People with wetsuits are particularly needed to help refloat the whales around today's 12.17pm high tide. Anyone who can help is asked to get to Triangle Flat at the base of Farewell Spit by around 11am. As well as bringing wetsuits if they have them, people should bring warm clothing, water, food and all the gear they need.

Project Jonah is also putting out a call to its trained volunteers to come and assist.

DOC rangers are still assessing how many of the whales are dead.

Sixty eight whales had been stranded about 3 km along the Spit last night of which 7 were dead. The whales have floated in the overnight high tide and moved further along the Spit. The stranded whales are this morning spread out over about 1.6 km.

DOC rangers and Project Jonah and other volunteers will this morning work to keep the whales as comfortable as possible and wet with buckets of sea water.

ENDS

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