In New Zealand's Stewart Island, the Department of Conservation has reported the death of twenty-eight pilot whales in a mass stranding at a remote beach over the weekend. According to

the reports, nine whales were already dead Sunday morning when a hiker came across the pod scattered over about 700 meters of West Ruggedy Beach, and the rest had to be euthanized.

The manager of Department of Conservation Brent Bevan told Monday's Southland Times that wild seas and strong winds made it too dangerous to mount a rescue effort to save the survivors.

They were put down to prevent prolonged suffering, because they would have died by drowning or sunburn.

Most southerly of New Zealand's three main islands Rugged Stewart Island is about 30 kilometers off the tip of the South Island.