More pilot whales die in NZ

– More than 50 beached pilot whales perished in New Zealand yesterday, the latest in a spate of mass strandings this week that experts have linked to rising ocean temperatures.

It is the fifth stranding, including 145 pilot whales which died last weekend at Stewart Island, off the southern coast of the South Island.

By the time rangers reached the latest group early yesterday, 50 had died, one had to be euthanised and the rest had refloated themselves and returned to sea. –