E' corsa contro il tempo in Nuova Zelanda nel tentativo di salvare centinaia di balene che si sono arenate nelle scorse ore nella spiaggia di Farewell Spit nell'isola meridionale. Oltre 400 gli esemplari di Globicephala melas spiaggiati, tre quarti dei quali purtroppo già morti all'arrivo dei primi soccorsi.
Farewell Spit, 300 balene spiaggiate e il soccorso dei volontari
RSI Info 10.02.2017, 20:39
L'incidente, uno dei peggiori nella storia del Paese, è avvenuto in un tratto di costa nella regione della Golden Bay, nel nord dell'isola meridionale, che in passato è già stato teatro di episodi simili. I media locali riferiscono di centinaia di volontari ed ambientalisti che si sono lanciati in una disperata operazione di salvataggio fin dalle prime ore del mattino, prendendosi cura di questi mammiferi marini o incoraggiandoli a nuotare nella giusta direzione verso il mare aperto.
In molti hanno formato una catena umana in acqua evitando che gli animali ritornassero verso la costa. Altri invece si sono occupati di quelli arenati coprendoli e bagnandoli con secchiate di acqua per evitare la loro disidratazione. Si spera nell'alta marea che potrebbe aiutare alcune delle balene pilota a salvarsi.
La Nuova Zelanda mantiene il triste primato di balene spiaggiate al mondo e quest'ultimo episodio è tra i peggiori mai registrati finora. Nel 1918 mille balene pilota trovarono la morte sulle isole Chatham Islands, mentre nel 1985 furono 450 quelle che non riuscirono a salvarsi ad Auckland.
ats/joe.p.
Dal TG20:
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