Conservation officials said they decided to euthanize the remaining 27 because the chances of getting them safely back out to sea were too slim . The group of whales got stranded overnight on New Zealand 's South Island . Hide Caption ` ` It was unlikely they could be rescued , '' a local conservation official says . New Zealand has one of the highest stranding rates for marine mammals .
The group of whales got stranded overnight on New Zealand 's South Island . Hide Caption `` It was unlikely they could be rescued , '' a local conservation official says . New Zealand has one of the highest stranding rates for marine mammals .