Over 30 whales stranded in New Zealand swim again thanks to the help of people on the beach (coordinated by Māori)

An extraordinary event last November 24th rescue operation took place on Ruakākā Beach, New Zealand, where over 30 pilot whales they were stranded. The local community, coordinated by the Māori Patuharakeke group and supported by the Department of Conservation (DOC), worked intensively to return the animals to the sea. Unfortunately, four whales, including a calf, did not survive.

The intervention was a notable example of cooperation between authorities and citizens. Whales have been lifted with the help of sheets and transported to deeper waterswhere they were guided to swim back out to sea.

Throughout the night, volunteers monitored the beach for prevent the animals from becoming stranded again. The community’s dedication was highlighted by the DOC, which described the efforts as “incredible” and highlighted the compassion shown towards these majestic marine mammals.

A Māori ritual ceremony was held for the dead whales

This type of event is not uncommon in New Zealand, which records one of the highest rates of whale and dolphin strandings in the world. Since 1840, over 5,000 incidents have been documented, often attributed to the country’s geography.

Its shallow, sloping coasts can confuse cetaceans, which rely on echolocation to orient themselves. Pilot whales, a species that lives in large schools, are particularly vulnerable to these phenomena.

In addition to the tragedy of the stranding, the event highlighted the importance of the cultural connection between Māori and whalesconsider a taonga (sacred treasure). For deceased whales it was organized a ritual ceremonyrespecting indigenous traditions.

Strandings represent a growing challenge, not only for the conservation of species but also for the emotional and logistical impact they take on communities. However, similar events demonstrate the ability of people to come together to address environmental emergencies.

The rescue of Ruakākā is a positive example of collaboration between local communities, experts and volunteers can make a differenceeven in dramatic situations. Something fundamental given that mass stranding incidents have recently been recorded in other parts of the world, highlighting the need to adopt prevention strategies to reduce such events in the future.