Beached whales shot to prevent 'long, painful death'

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.

Forty-nine whales came ashore on Saturday near Farewell Spit in the second major stranding in the area within two weeks. Eight died on the beaches and the remaining mammals were shot when heavy seas prevented any attempt to refloat them.