Globicephala melas (Pilot Whale) Photographs of Globicephala melas (Pilot Whale) by New Zealand Photojournalist and Underwater Photographer Richard Robinson. Order: Cetartiodactyla Suborder: Cetancodonta Infraorder: Cetacea Superfamily: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae

On Wednesday 23 September 2010 reports of approximately 80 Pilot Whales had stranded over 5km at the very remote Spirits Bay in the Far North of New Zealand. Weather conditions across the Country had been horrendous and by night fall there was just 24 whales alive. With a 2 meter swell, gusting 100km/h winds and no sign of the weather improving a traditional rescue attempt at the beach was impossible. The Department of Conservation (DOC), Project Jonah, Orca Research Trust, Far North Whale Rescue, Local Iwi Ngati Kuri and hundred's of volunteers from across the country came together to attempt the most ambitious three day whale rescue in history. In the morning the surviving whales were moved to a near by stream where they could rest and recuperate for the night before being loaded onto six trucks packed with sand and hay then transported 50km South along windy dirt roads to sheltered Rarawa Beach where a refloat could be attempted in calmer waters.