As many as 140 dead pilot whales on Mason Bay, Stewart Island yesterday. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDThe "heart-breaking'' decision to euthanise around 70 pilot whales on Stewart Island at the weekend was "not taken lightly'', Department of Conservation (Doc) staff say. As many as 140 pilot whales died after becoming stranded on Mason Bay on the west coast of the island. Doc was alerted to the stranded whales at 10.30pm on Saturday by a tramper camping in the area. Last year nearly 650 whales stranded over two days at Farewell Spit, at the north end of Golden Bay.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 26, 2018 15:33 UTC