9 killer whales dead in rare mass stranding in New Zealand

Nine orca, or killer whales, have died in a rare stranding of the species in the far south of New Zealand's South Island, the Department of Conservation (DOC) said Wednesday. The deaths of the eight adults and one juvenile near Tuatapere early Wednesday would have an impact on the national population of about 200 orca, said a DOC statement. All of the animals died at the scene and the DOC had recovered some DNA samples and the carcass of one animal for necropsy. "We don't know why the animals stranded, but this offers an opportunity to collect as much data as possible to help learn more about the species," said the statement. More than 70 pilot whales died in three mass strandings at Farewell Spit, at the top of the South Island, last month.