23 January 2012
50 Project Jonah Marine Mammal Medics are preparing for an early start tomorrow, as night falls and efforts to save 77 stranded pilot whales are put on hold.
Of the 99 that stranded around lunchtime today, 22 have died. However Project Jonah volunteers, DOC, and Golden Bay locals have worked tirelessly to give the remaining whales the best chance of survival.
“The failing light and a quickly rising tide make continuing our first aid action too dangerous,” says Kimberly Muncaster, Project Jonah CEO.
“We can only hope that some of the whales make it back to the ocean by themselves on the high tide at 11.00pm, and that those left on the beach in the morning are still alive and able to be refloated on the following high tide.”
Today’s stranding happened seven kilometres along Farewell Spit, and just two kilometres from the mass stranding many of our medics attended earlier this month.
Our volunteers will be at the stranding site with DOC at first light tomorrow, to assess the situation and begin work immediately to help any remaining whales survive until the next refloat attempt.
Kimberly says it's impossible to predict what the situation will be tomorrow. More volunteers will definitely be needed, but they may face an enormous challenge and must come prepared. A list of items to bring can be found
here.
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