New Zealand Residents Team Up to Rescue More Than 30 Beached Whales

Whales in the south Pacific have historically found themselves washed up on New Zealand's shores in large numbers. After the latest major beaching event, local residents and conservation workers wasted no time in helping save their big, beautiful friends. 

According to The Associated Press, more than 30 pilot whales were found stranded on Nov. 24 at Ruakākā Beach near the city of Whangārei on New Zealand's North Island. The Department of Conservation commended the hundreds of locals who sprang into action to help save the beached animals for the "incredible" work. 

“It’s amazing to witness the genuine care and compassion people have shown toward these magnificent animals," Department of Conservation spokesperson Joel Lauterbach said of the joint effort. "This response demonstrates the deep connection we all share with our marine environment."

Residents and conservation department workers lifted the whales on sheets to help get them back into the water. Sadly, four of the pilot whales—three adults and one calf—died while on shore. Because of whales' hallowed place in Māori culture as a "taonga," or sacred treasure, some local Indigenous people performed a cultural ceremony to honor their deaths. 

Related: 55 Whales Wash Up on Beach in Scotland

New Zealand might be home to some of the most world-famous whale-watching sites in the world, but that doesn't mean you'll see them all in the ocean.