About 140 pilot whales which stranded themselves on a remote stretch of beach in New Zealand have died, an official said today.

Wildlife officers shot 41 pilot whales beached on New Zealand’s South Island, ending their suffering after the sea was deemed to rough to try to rescue them.

Conservation workers and volunteers used a high tide today to refloat about 110 pilot whales from a beach where they became stranded a day earlier on New Zealand’s South Island. At least 15 others died, a conservation official said.

Conservation workers and volunteers were today racing against time in a bid to save 123 pilot whales beached on New Zealand’s South Island.