Volunteers assisting in returning stranded whales to the ocean – Photo: BBC These whales were found stranded late on the evening of November 4 in the Ohiwa Harbor area, Bay of Plenty. By the morning of November 5, 36 had been confirmed dead, while another 21 were successfully guided back to the safety of the open sea.

Upon discovering the stranded whales, DOC staff and local residents worked together to guide one group of whales back to the ocean, but unfortunately, another group became stranded in the early morning of November 5.

DOC staff is currently monitoring the remaining whales to prevent them from re-stranding. BBC reports that the cause of the mass stranding is not yet clear.

Pilot whales are the largest members of the dolphin family and are known to be prone to strandings. In 1918, approximately 1,000 pilot whales stranded in the Chatham Islands, marking the largest stranding event recorded to date.

Several theories surround the reasons for mass whale strandings, including the hypothesis that when one whale becomes stranded, other members of the pod may attempt to assist, resulting in more individuals becoming trapped.

Rescue efforts for stranded whales – Photo: SunLive

A deceased whale following a stranding incident – Photo: SunLive”