Dozens of Pilot Whales Die on Stewart Island, NZ

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Stranded pilot whales die on Stewart Island

A pod of 29 pilot whales was discovered on Tuesday, more than half of them still alive, by two hikers, Asti Kyd and her partner Peter Mullins, said a report.

When DOC staff arrived on Thursday, eight of the whales were still alive, but they had to be euthanized, “to prevent them from prolonged suffering,” the Island ranger was quoted as saying.

DOC ranger Phred Dobbins counts the dead whales partially buried in sand at Doughboy Bay on Stewart Island. Photo: Department of Conservation/link via Stuff NZ

Many hundreds of pilot whales have died on or near Stewart Island since the late 1990s.

Stewart Island, New Zealand’s third-largest island, lies 30km south of the South Island, across the Foveaux Strait, and has a permanent population of about 400.

Tsunami of Toxic Sludge Destroys Brazilian Town

Toxic waste dam collapses razing Brazil Bento Rodriguestown, killing dozens

At least 70 people have reportedly been killed or are missing after a toxic waste dam burst in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, devastating the town of Bento Rodrigues [population: 650.]

The dam collapsed releasing large quantities of toxic waste from mining operations in Germano mine, which is owned by Samarco mining company. The dam, located about 300 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro, is close to Gualaxo do Norte river.

[Samarco is a joint venture set up by the Brazilian multinational mining company, Vale, world’s third largest,  and the Anglo-Australian BHP Billiton, world’s largest mining company.]

“An avalanche of liquid waste destroyed houses, a school, a church, a medical center, carried away vehicles. Many families have been left homeless and are waiting for news about their loved ones. The emergency work is hampered by the fact that the flooded areas are only accessible via helicopters. This is one of the saddest scenes I ever had to witness,” TASS news agency quoted the health ministry of Minas Gerais state as saying.