Big operation on to save pilot whales

A massive effort on one of Northland's most remote beaches has so far saved 24 stranded pilot whales - but the toughest part of the rescue is expected to begin today.
The survivors of Wednesday's mass stranding at Spirits Bay, between Cape Reinga and North Cape, were yesterday shifted using trucks and diggers into a lagoon beside a Department of Conservation campground.
There it was hoped to keep them cool and stable overnight ahead of today's attempt to return them to the sea, two days and nights since they came ashore.
Patrick Whaley, of DoC's Kaitaia office, said heavy swells and 30 knot winds were expected to continue at least until tomorrow, making re-floating the whales at Spirits Bay impossible.
Conditions on the west coast were even worse with a 6m swell; nearby Parengarenga Harbour was sheltered but the chances of a re-stranding were too high.
The nearest suitable location on the east coast was Rarawa Beach, 50km away by road.
Rarawa would be attempted only if all the whales could be moved at once, Mr Whaley said.
DoC was yesterday trying to muster the necessary trucks and equipment.
The alarm was raised on Wednesday morning by a DoC contractor setting pest traps to protect rare flax snails.
Nellie Norman, of Te Hapua, saw just two dead whales at first - but when she climbed a hill to reach her traps, she saw whales "dotted all the down the beach as far as the eye could see".
"It was unbelievable. Not many people come across a stranding in their lifetime, let alone by themselves. It was pretty overwhelming."
When DoC rescuers arrived whales were still coming ashore, and up to 50 more were still milling in the water beyond the breakers. Initial reports put the number of beached whales at 74, spread out over more than 2km.
Mr Whaley said it was unclear exactly how many had died, because the sea was so rough many of the bodies had been sucked out to sea. More than 20, which were on rocks or could not be reached by rescuers, had to be euthanased by trained staff using a large-calibre rifle.
The 25 survivors were shifted above the high water mark - the greatest risk to a stranded whale is drowning when the tide drives water into its blowhole - where teams of people kept them wet. One juvenile died overnight.
Those shifted into the lagoon were alert, calm and breathing well.
Two had been injured on rocks but the wounds were only superficial. The response to the second stranding in just over a month had been "fantastic", Mr Whaley said.
Sixty DoC staff from as far away as Auckland had been joined by more than 200 volunteers from Project Jonah, Far North Whale Rescue, Ngati Kuri and nearby settlements. The people of Te Hapua donated food and set up a kitchen to feed the rescuers.
Among those helping out yesterday was a group of German backpackers who had been looking for a campground.
Instead they stumbled on a travel experience they are unlikely to forget.
Lisa Marie May, 18, said she had seen strandings on TV but never expected to seen one for real.
"It's shocking to see these great animals out of their element, on land. But it's great to be able to help."
There were unconfirmed reports late yesterday of another stranding at the even more remote Tom Bowling Bay, near North Cape.
Mr Whaley said there was much speculation about the cause of two mass strandings in just over a month, but no one was really sure.
On August 20, 58 pilot whales stranded on Karikari Beach.
Nine were eventually re-floated on the other side of the peninsula.
Both occurred in shallow, north-facing bays in rough conditions and in the whales' main migration season.
However, the Spirits Bay whales were discovered almost immediately, which was why the survivors were in better condition.
While not large by whale standards, pilot whales still weigh 1.5-2 tonnes each.