By 3 News online staff
Four whales have died overnight and 35 remain onshore after re-stranding at Farewell Spit.
The long-finned pilot whales are part of a pod of 99 that beached in Golden Bay around midday on Monday. They were refloated a day later and 39 stranded again yesterday afternoon.
This morning’s tally brings the toll of dead or unaccounted for whales over two days to 47. A small group of 17 whales refloated themselves on Monday night and appear to be safely back at sea.
Project Jonah marine mammal medics who have camped out in the Farewell Spit carpark over the last two nights are preparing themselves for another day of rescue effort.
Chief executive Kimberly Muncaster says the whales are this morning in a reasonable condition.
An attempt to refloat them will be made at high tide just before midday.
“Unfortunately, they have moved further east, which takes them to the margin of our ability to work with them, but they aren’t beyond reach.”
Ms Muncaster says limited numbers of volunteers are needed for this third day of rescue work. She says they need to prepare themselves with adequate supplies of clothing, sun protection, food and water, and a wetsuit if possible.
Ms Muncaster is urging people in the Golden Bay and Tasman area to be vigilant and look for signs of a possible restranding of the whales already back in the water.
3 News