Mass stranding of rough-toothed dolphins in Far North, New Zealand
A pod of 25 rough-toothed dolphins stranded on a reef at Tauroa Point at the southern end of 90 Mile Beach, New Zealand’s Far North District on April 17, 2023. A stranding of this size for this species is unprecedented.
According to the country’s Department of Conservation (DOC), 10 dolphins were found dead upon the arrival of their staff. However, 15 dolphins were found alive and were safely guided back out to sea through water channels.
Rough-toothed dolphins are usually found in warmer tropical waters, DOC said.
“There have only been four previous records of strandings in New Zealand which included a stranding of four animals in south Marlborough in 1990.
“A stranding of this size for this species is unprecedented.”
References:
1 New Zealand’s Department of Conservation – April 17, 2023
Featured image: DOC
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