A mass stranding in New Zealand’s remote set of islands has resulted in the deaths of around 100 whales and dolphins.

97 pilot whales and 3 bottlenose dolphins were discovered dead on the Chatham Islands of New Zealand.

It is believed that most of them passed away after being stranded.

Rescue efforts were also hampered due to the remote location of the islands.

The Chatham Islands of New Zealand are nearly 500 miles away from the east coast of the country.

Rescuers found that there are still 26 whales that are still alive.

The giant mammals were euthanized in order to stave off the great white sharks that were trying to feast on their carcasses.

The Department of Conservation of New Zealand said that they got to know about the mass stranding deaths on Sunday this week.

Jemma Welch, a biodiversity ranger that works for the Department of Conservation of New Zealand, released a statement about the incident.

They said:

Only 26 of the whales were still alive at this point, the majority of them appearing very weak, and were euthanised due to the rough sea conditions and almost certainty of there being great white sharks in the water which are brought in by a stranding like this.

This is just sad.