Farewell Spit whale stranding

4.30pm:

DOC rangers and Project Jonah volunteers have worked hard through the day to keep eight whales refloated off Farewell Spit this morning from re-stranding.

After the whales were refloated mid-morning rescuers formed a human chain to nudge the whales out into deeper water. Rescuers moved them a long way out from shore in the receding tide and prevented them re-stranding in that area again. The whales began swimming in deeper water along the coastline early this afternoon being monitored by DOC rangers in a boat and from shore.

Then around 3pm there were concerns the whales might re-strand when they moved into shallower water near the base of Farewell Spit. Rescuers raced into the sea to turn the whales back into deeper water. Rescuers are currently still in the sea with the whales encouraging them to move out into deeper water.

Low tide was around 4pm and it is hoped the deepening water of the incoming tide will help keep the whales from stranding.

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