Video: Desperate effort to save 416 whales from drifting to the coast of New Zealand

More than 400 naval whales flock to the coast of New Zealand for unknown reasons, many died despite hundreds of volunteers trying to save the situation.

Spokesperson New Zealand's Conservation Department Andrew Lamason confirmed that 416 pepper whales today drifted off the coast of Cape Farewell, Golden Bay, north of South Island, according to AFP.

The pepper whale runs aground at Farewell's nose.

Lamason said about 70% of the whales that washed ashore died, while efforts to save the rest were facing a gloomy outlook.

Adult whales are about 6 meters long, most common among whales living in waters near New Zealand.

Cape Farewell is about 150km west of Nelson's tourist town, which has seen at least 9 whales stranded in the last decade, but this is the time when most whales have washed ashore.

Lamason said the cause of stranded whales has not been clarified, but he believes it is somewhat related to the geographical location of the Farewell cape."If you design something to catch whales in Golden Bay, then this is probably the perfect design , " he said.