Pilot Whales are the most common whale species in New Zealand waters, and for about between 13-19 inches (4-6 meters) in length. They travel in pods and family group, and when one is stranded, others will follow and try to help and also get stuck.
Because of this helpful attitude of these mammals, it was just this Friday, January 21, 2011 when the New Zealand conservation officials had discovered 24 dead pilot whales trapped in the mangrove swamp in Parengarenga Harbor on North Island.
The manager of the Department of Conservation area Jonathan Maxwell said that the mammals were in poor shape, and 14 has been found dead earlier in that day.
Fortunately, the officials have saved 10 pilot whales in the strand among the 24-strong pod stranded.
This is not just the first time, for New Zealand has several whale m(–foul word(s) removed–) strandings of about 450 mammals around its coastline every summer; and basically whale experts have not yet explain why these animals love to swim into dangerously shallow waters.
With the rapid changes of the weather these few days, badly, these animals are really in danger.