Credit: Department of Conservation
Today’s good news story is from the Good News Network.
More Than 30 Stranded Whales Rescued in New Zealand by People Lifting Them on Sheets
After a pod of more than 30 pilot whales were stranded on a New Zealand beach, over a thousand volunteers and professionals organized to save them by carrying them back out to sea on sheets.
The sheets were suspended from the prow of a boat operated by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DoC).
The stranding happened on Ruakākā Beach near the city of Whangārei in New Zealand’s north island, a particularly prolific stranding location for pilot whales. DoC agents routinely survey the beach and ask the public to report any whales coming too near.
Rescue efforts saw almost all of the pilot whales survive, while three adults and one calf perished. A Māori ceremony was held to honor their spirits, as the Māori believe the animal to be a sacred cultural treasure.
“It’s amazing to witness the genuine care and compassion people have shown toward these magnificent animals,” Joel Lauterbach, a Department of Conservation spokesperson, said in a statement. “This response demonstrates the deep connection we all share with our marine environment.”
WATCH the story below from Straight Arrow News…
WATCH on CBS News HERE to see how they used the sheets…
The good news in this story is seeing folks pull together to save other Earth residents. The JohnKu talks about thinking of others as more than just animals. I hope you have a super weekend.
Neighbors by John W. Howell ©2024
We are one species,
Among millions of others . . .
We should honor them
Fiction Favorites 
And honor they did.
It’s nice to see us humans show such grace, the kind of grace that seems to escape too many of us on the regular. Good to know it’s still there, for all creatures great and small.
Hope your Thanksgiving was bountiful.
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My Thanksgiving was terrific. I hope yours was the same. 😊
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It was Boss, thanks.
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😊
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Well done 👍 👍
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you, F4oC. 😁
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Your JohnKu says it all!
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You are so kind, Liz. Thanks. 😊
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There are tears of joy rolling down my cheeks! ❤
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Yes. I feel the same way.
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This gave me chills! I love it.
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It is an amazing story, Thanks, GP.
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Nice story. Though I wonder how or why so many got stranded at once. It’s like they didn’t know the island was in the way.
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I think that is pretty much it. They ran aground.
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Such kindness and caring from one species to another. This lifted my heart today. Whales have a soft spot in mine.
Thanks so much!
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Very nice comment, Noelle. Thank you.
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It’s good to see that some people care enough for other creatures to help them survive.
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I agree, Tim.
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That is a good news story. Thanks for sharing it.
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It is a good one. Thanks, Craig
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We really should. They’re wonderful creatures. Thank you for bringing us this good news story.
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Always a pleasure to find good news. Thanks, Esther.
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I heard that story and was quite touched that folks put aside their differences and worked to help that pod out. We hope it all goes well and they manage to keep from beaching themselves. Thanks for spreading the good news, John. Hope you and the fur-kids had a terrific Thanksgiving.
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We did and hope you did the same.
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So heartwarming and great news, John~! 🌹
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It is.
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Interesting solution. I wonder how many people and how long it takes to rescue them.
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I couldn’t find any information on how long or how many. Thanks, Pete.
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Such extraordinary happenings. Whales are so fascinating. Thanks for posting this, John. Hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. Hugs back.
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We can be a decent species Steve times, can’t we. Excellent story.
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Yes we can. Thanks, Steve.
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It’s always warms my heart to see people get together to save another species. Perfect JohnKu to sum the story up
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Thank you, Dale. I’m glad you liked it. 😊
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Very much so.
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😁
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Another great story in your Friday series. And I was impressed that so many people (more than a thousand!) showed up to help. 🌞
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That is amazing. Thanks, Dave.
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That’s amazing, John!
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I thought so too. Thanks, Jan.
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Gosh, well that’s good, but it kind of makes me wonder if there’s anything that can be done to keep them from repeatedly getting stranded there in the first place. I’m guessing that’s an even larger task to accomplish.
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I think that is a big problem. Thanks IIsa.
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Yes. Very unfortunate.
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It is wonderful to see what wonders we can achieve when we focus on a positive goal, no?
Help me understand more about “JohnKu”?
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At one time in my blogging life I would do a Haiku once a week. Sine my poems didn’t stick to the nature convention a blogger suggested that they were more like what I thought stated in the 5-7-5 syllable convention. She then labelled it a JohnKu instead of Haiku.I kept it ever since.
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A thousand volunteers…that speaks volumes.
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Heartbreaking (the 4 that perished)and heart lifting (over 30 survived) all at once.
A great Friyay, thank you John!
The JohnKu is right on. I love and respect and honour all animals so much, I can’t bring myself to eat them.
The entire food chain reality freaks me out, actually.
🥗⛓ 🧇⛓🍊⛓🧅⛓
PS – Between 1/3 and 1/2 read. 🌟 💓 Do you have a cover yet?
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I can see your love for animals and why you don’t want to eat them. Yes, I have a cover. I will send it to you. The publish date now looks like mid February. I like your vegetable and fruit chain 😁X 🥗⛓ 🧇⛓🍊⛓🧅⛓
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Sounds good. I look forward to seeing the cover!
Food chain on the brain.
😁X 🥗⛓ 🧇⛓🍊⛓🧅⛓ 😁X
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Sent this morning. 😁X 😊X
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Got it! 🏆🥇
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Yay
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Thank goodness for some good humanitarians. Sadly, with the world’s climate change and other disasters, many from sea life are washing up on shores. Us humans need to take care of our water-living friends. 🙂
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I agree, Debby. Sorry it took so long to respond but you ended up in spam (why? I can’t even hope to guess.)
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Lol, no apologies John. I seem to be hiding out in so many spam folders these days. So many glitches with WP. 🙂
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I know. It is a shame.
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This is amazing and makes me so happy to learn about.
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I agree, Darlene.
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