Via CNN
145 whales died today after being found stranded on a remote beach in New Zealand.Authorities were first alerted about the mass stranding by a hiker who was hiking on Saturday evening. Half of the whales were already dead by the time he found them and the remaining animals were euthanized.
Officials said that the remote location and condition of the surviving whales made it impossible to save them.They added that the likelihood of being able to successfully re-float the remaining whales was extremely low hence their decision to euthanize them.
The reasons why whales and dolphins become stranded on land are because of several reasons including sickness, navigational error, geographical features, a rapidly falling tide, being chased by a predator or extreme weather.