Pilot whales strand in New Zealand

Around 50 long-finned pilot whales stranded on Monday on New Zealand's South Island at a location called Farewell Spit. The long stretch of coast has shallow sandy waters which have seen numerous strandings over the years.

Volunteer rescuers from Project Jonah, experts in attending strandings, were able to return nearly 30 whales to the water but sadly reports indicate that 15 other whales died.

The hope is that the surviving whales were make it back out to deeper water and avoid restranding.

Find out more about whale strandings.