A mysterious 3.6m tall metal pillar found recently in the Utah desert has been sought out by a number of tourists eager to have their photo taken with it. Discovered by a helicopter crew surveying bighorn sheep in the area, the monolith displays no indications of how it was placed there or for how long it has been in place.

Current speculation suggests it may be the work of the late John McCracken, a New Mexico based artist who passed away in 2011 and was known for his large freestanding sculptures of pyramids, cubes, and shiny slabs.

Local authorities are keeping the location of the pillar a secret, fearing hikers may risk their lives attempting to find it.

97 pilot whales and 3 bottlenose dolphins have died as a result of a mass stranding on the remote Chatham Islands, located 800 kilometers off New Zealand's east coast. New Zealand's Department of Conservation was notified of the incident on Sunday, however rescue efforts were thwarted by the remote location and rough sea conditions.