Orca died overnight

The female Orca whale at the centre of a refloating attempt off the south Taranaki coast near Patea has died overnight.

Department of Conservation staff and local iwi are at the beach where there will be karakia before samples are taken for testing and this will be followed by the orca whale being buried.

Whanganui DOC Operations Manager Jasmine Hessell says in spite of the huge effort by local volunteers and DOC staff the large mammal was unable to be kept alive and refloated.

ends