Do The Strand

The graphic pictures of the mass strandings of circa 300 Pilot whales on Farewell spit of Golden Bay on New Zealand's South Island is attracting a lot of attention (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/10/hundreds-whales-die-mass-stranding-new-zealand-beach) with volunteers working to try to re-float survivors (who often re-beach themselves at the next tide). As is usual, the reasons for the strandings are mysterious. The whales are highly social and try to stay with their pod and it could be the case that the topography of the bay confused their sonar systems, driving them into a location that was too shallow. Other strandings of cetaceans have been variously blamed on disease/parasitism, pursuit of prey and even sonar interference from human sources (e.g. submarines). The losses of this species do seem to be very considerable.