AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Officials in New Zealand say 33 beached long-finned pilot whales have been euthanized after a three-day effort to save them was unsuccessful.
The whales were in a pod of 99 that beached on the northwestern tip of the country's South Island Monday, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
Only 17 of the whales survived, Department of Conservation officials said.
The group of 33 whales was seen swimming to safety Wednesday but re-stranded in an area where it would be difficult to attempt another rescue, officials said, leading to the decision to euthanize them.
The animals were showing significant signs of physical deterioration and distress after a final attempt to get them to sea, officials said.
Strandings are common at this time of year at the location known as Farewell Spit, a long finger of sand that extends out into the whales' migration path, they said.
