Over 100 Whales Die in New Zealand

New Zealand was the site of a massive amount of whales that were found stranded on two beaches this weekend. Approximately 125 whales died this weekend but with the help of volunteers and conservations workers, 43 whales were saved after being helped back into the ocean. By Monday morning, rescue workers reported that all 43 of the whales were back out to sea off of Colville Beach on North Island's Coromandel peninsula.

No one was clear on how the pilot whales ended up stranded, but there is speculation that their their sonar may have led them into the shallow harbor and they could not find their way out of the shallow water.

On the South Island, 105 long-finned pilot whales died Saturday after being stranded on the beach. When the pilot of a tourist plane spotted the whales on the beach, conservation workers and volunteered headed to the beach only to find some very sick whales.

Thirty were still alive but very ill. It was suspected that the whales had been on land for quite awhile and did not fare well in the oppressive heat. All of the whales either died or had to be euthanized by conservation workers as they were extremely ill.

A total of 105 long-finner pilot whales died on the South Island and 20 died on the North Island. Scientist are still not positive why whales become stranded.