DOC warns further euthanasia is possible after several of the whales restranded after being refloated. Photo: DOC/Gregg Napp
Volunteers, Department of Conservation staff, Project Jonah members and mana whenua will spend another day trying to keep stranded whales alive in Golden Bay.
One of two pods of pilot whales stranded over the weekend remains on Puponga Beach near Pakawau, as rescuers awaited high tide later today.
Project Jonah received reports of up to 30 pilot whales coming ashore at about 7pm on Saturday.
One whale was euthanised, two others died and DOC warned further euthanasia was possible after several of the whales restranded after being refloated.
Lamason said the larger of the two pods, which was stranded on sand and closer to a channel, refloated itself overnight.
He said there was always a possibility the whales would restrand, but so far, there was no sign of them.
The whales are draped with sheets to prevent sunburn, while people fetch water using buckets to keep them cool. Photo: DOC/ Shane Butland
Lamason said the team was optimistic they would be able to refloat the other eleven whales that remained on the beach, with rescuers doing everything they could to keep the whales cool and calm ahead of high tide around 3.30pm.
The whales are draped with sheets to prevent sunburn, while people fetch water from the sea using buckets to douse them with.
"These whales have not been on the beach for as long as the other pod, so they're in better condition."
"The wind's are not predicted to be as strong today, but it is a beautiful Golden Bay day, which is great if you're sunbathing but not if you're a whale."
The stranding is the third in the area since early December.
In the first week of January, eight of ten whales that stranded were successfully refloated, while around 13 died from a larger group that stranded in early December
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