More than 140 pilot whales have reportedly died on a remote beach in Mason Bay on Stewart Island, New Zealand, the latest in a recent string of whale strandings and deaths in the country.

On Saturday night, a hiker camping in the remote location informed the country’s Department of Conservation (DoC) of the mass stranding, with the number of whales equating two pods.

Ren Leppens, the DoC Operations Manager in Rakiura said at least half of the whales were dead by the time the agency’s staff arrived at the scene.

“Sadly, the likelihood of being able to successfully refloat the remaining whales was extremely low. The remote location, lack of nearby personnel and the whales’ deteriorating condition meant the most humane thing to do was to euthanize,” Leppens said.

However, the local Maori, tribe, Ngai Tahu is currently working with DOC officials to bless the dead whales and make plans for their burial.

According to the DoC which responds to about 85 of such incidents in a year, marine strandings are common in New Zealand. Since 1840, more than 5,000 strandings have been recorded around the country’s coastline.

Although the reasons for whale strandings are not fully understood, the DoC says contributing factors can include sickness, navigational error, geographical features, a rapidly falling tide, being chased by a predator or extreme weather.

Last year, more than 400 pilot whales were stranded in Golden Bay, the largest whale stranding in New Zealand’s history. Hundreds of locals participated in that mass civilian rescue effort but regrettably, more than 300 whales died.