WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) 鈥� More than 30 pilot whales that stranded themselves on a beach in New Zealand were safely returned to the ocean after conservation workers and residents helped to refloat them by lifting them on sheets. Four of the pilot whales died, New Zealand鈥檚 conservation agency said.
New Zealand is a and pilot whales are .
A team was monitoring Ruak膩k膩 Beach near the city of Whang膩rei in New Zealand鈥檚 north on Monday to ensure there were no signs of the whales saved Sunday stranding again, the Department of Conservation told The Associated Press. The agency praised as 鈥渋ncredible鈥� the efforts made by hundreds of people to help save the foundering pod.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to witness the genuine care and compassion people have shown toward these magnificent animals,鈥� Joel Lauterbach, a Department of Conservation spokesperson, said in a statement. 鈥淭his response demonstrates the deep connection we all share with our marine environment.鈥�
A M膩ori cultural ceremony for the three adult whales and one calf that died in the stranding took place on Monday. New Zealand鈥檚 Indigenous people consider whales a taonga 鈥� a sacred treasure 鈥� of cultural significance.
New Zealand has recorded since 1840. The largest pilot whale stranding was of an estimated 1,000 whales at the Chatham Islands in 1918, according to the Department of Conservation.
It's often not clear why strandings happen but the island nation's geography is believed to be a factor. Both the North and South Islands feature stretches of protruding coastline with shallow, sloping beaches that can confuse species such as pilot whales 鈥� which rely on echolocation to navigate.
Charlotte Graham-mclay, The Associated Press
