Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
145 pilot whales die of mysterious cause on New Zealand beach
A supplied image shows 145 pilot whales that died in a mass stranding on a beach on Stewart Island, south of New Zealand's South Island, Nov. 25. New Zealand Department of Conservation via Reuters
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
A total of 145 pilot whales have died in a mass stranding on a remote New Zealand beach.
According to the nation's Department of Conservation (DOC) Monday, a hiker discovered the whales on Stewart Island, 30 kilometers off the southern coast of the South Island, last Sunday.
When conservation workers arrived there, half the whales were already dead. The DOC later decided to euthanize the rest.
“Sadly, the likelihood of being able to re-float the remaining whales successfully was extremely low,” said Ren Leppens, the DOC's operations manager on Stewart Island.
“The remote location, lack of nearby personnel and the whales' deteriorating condition meant the most humane thing to do was to euthanize … However, it's always a heart-breaking decision to make.”
Leppens said the whales were half buried in sand and not in good health, indicating they had been there for a day before they were found.
Whale strandings often happen on New Zealand shores ― although the number this time was unusual.
On Sunday, 10 pygmy killer whales were stranded at 90 Mile Beach on the North Island. Two have died since, and officials will try to refloat the remaining eight.