Nine orcas die on New Zealand coastline after rare stranding

Nine killer whales have died in a rare mass stranding on the New Zealand coast that has been described as a major blow to the small local orca population.

Eight adults and one juvenile, beached themselves at the remote Blue Cliffs Beach on the far south coast of the South Island on Wednesday. The reason for the strandings are not yet known, but local conservationists are worried about the impact this event will have on just 200 orcas that remain in the region.