1st February

Grey Seal Pup - Scotland

28th January

Ross Flett from Orkney Seal Rescue received a telephone call on January 28th of a pup at The Babee, requiring attention. Ross immediately called Montrose Area Coordinator Elaine Roft recognising this as her patrol area, giving details of the callers name & number etc. The pup, named "Mouros" was a fully weaned Grey that kept hauling out behind the local fishing shed, and the caller was concerned, as it had, what appeared to be cuts to its left eye and left side of body. Local Vets Robson & Partners were on standby to provide the necessary medical attention that the pup may require. Jacqueline Hamilton and Paul Horne, both Volunteers with the Montrose Group set off to the location of the pup tackling the horrendous road conditions with the snow and ice, to report back to Elaine on its present condition. Sadly, the pup was not for having spectators or help and took to the water whenever it was approached - even when given a wide berth and approached from different angles. The local fishing chaps who own the shed where it was hauled out are currently scouting the area on a daily basis to see if "Mouros" hauls out again. Pictures were distributed to the Montrose team so that they can be vigilant in looking for and recognising the pup when patrolling their individual areas of coastline.

Thanks to Ross for informing Elaine, Jacqueline and Paul, Montrose volunteers for braving the elements ! and to the fishing chaps for their ever ready support. Also to Grant for forwarding the picture of "Mouros" taken on his mobile phone whilst calling Ross Flett initially.

Elaine Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Coordinator (covers Inverbervie - Easthaven)

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BDMLR OnLine Network Holds Firm Against 'Attack' !

You may have seen in the news recently that a new virus has struck the cyber world. "doomsday" as it is called has crippled large multinationals and email servers around the globe.

It gets into your address book and emails everyone in the virus and them seems to use all the names to cross send the virus. so you end up getting an email from someone you have never heard of and it contains the virus. The only connection you have with the person that "sent it" is you were both in a third parties address book! confused!??

I pleased to tell you that our BDMLR cyber gurus Nick Kail and 'Yoyo' ( Graham Pettett ) had the server so well protected we stopped over 200 viruses getting through in 4 days! Following our recent problems with the server it is good to see that we can protect our system when the big outfits get caught out.

Well done guys. you work away in a dingy cellar at all ours, fed a meagre diet of hamburger and fries and you do a great job!

Mark Stevens
Director BDMLR

2nd February

Grey Seal Pup Rescue - Ferryden, Scotland

February 2nd saw BDMLR Montrose Medics called out to a seal pup at Ferryden. The fully weaned Grey pup named "spangle" had severe diarrhoea, mucous from the mouth and nose and lesions over most of its body and all its flippers. The very feisty pup was transported to local vets by Elaine, Bob, Paul and Sue where a thorough examination was carried out. The lungs were harsh, the diarrhoea brown to black tarry, and temperature was 38.8. There was bleeding from the lesions, with no infection found. Tubing proved difficult with the pup coughing up mucous more than likely coming from the lungs. Practising vet with Robson & Partners, Sarah Dick communicated with Laurence Brain who agreed to accommodate "spangle" in an isolation unit and to continue with medication and to administer worming as the vet suspected it may have lungworm infestation too."Spangle" was given 2mls of synulox injected into the lumbar region prior to transportation to Laurence.

Elaine and Bob arrived at New Deer at 4pm where the seal was washed down - much needed! and given rehydration fluids. Spangle was transported North in the holding tank for comfort rather than the vari - kennel. Because of the transportation methods used, BDMLR Montrose were unable to do a customary change over at Newburgh with BDMLR Fraserburgh. Sorry guys.

Many thanks to all involved, in particular, our ex seal shooter ! who showed concern (now logging seal sightings for us!) and to Sally Brain for rehydrating Elaine and Bob with coffee! Thanks also, to Sarah from the veterinary practice. Laurence informed us while we were there that "Dave" and "Julian" our previous rescue patients had now been released after successful rehabilitation.

Elaine Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Coordinator (covers Inverbervie - Easthaven)

[ above : Spangle at Ferryden ]

[ above : Spangle at Laurence Brain's ]

3rd February

Baby Right Whale Beaches At Amelia Island - Florida

3rd February, 2004

A right whale has beached itself near the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Amelia Island.

It's a newborn, approximately 12 to 14 feet long, according to an officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, who are at the beach.

Staff members from the New England Aquarium are also at the beach, and Florida Marine Research Institute personnel are on the way.

The baby is alive, and people are trying to keep the whale's body wet until experts can arrive. The FWC has aircraft over nearby waters looking for the whale's mother.

For several years, the New England Aquarium has studied right whales, which spend their calving season in the coastal waters of northeast Florida and southeast Georgia.

Researchers say that less than 400 right whales remain in the North Atlantic, meaning the species is the most endangered of all great whales.

The species is commonly known as the "right" whale because of the ease in which it was once hunted. Right whales, or Eubalaena glacialis, move slowly, migrate near shore and stay afloat after being killed.

Right whales can grow to a length of about 53 feet, or about half the size of blue whales.

( source : www.news4jax.com )

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Rare Hector's dolphin found dead - New Zealand

4th January, 2004

One of the world's rarest dolphins has been found washed up on Sumner beach.

The 40kg Hector's dolphin, a threatened species found only in New Zealand waters, was being sent to Massey University where an autopsy will determine how it died.

There are fewer than 1800 Hector's dolphins around Banks Peninsula.

( source : www.nzherald.co.nz via Brian Thomas )

 

 

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Pygmy sperm whale beaches, dies - Florida
2nd February, 2004

The whale, a 9-foot-long, approximately 700-pound female, was dead when biologists arrived at the scene, Martin said.
"It was emaciated, very, very underweight — an indication it was sick for a long time," he said.

Although the whale was too decomposed for biologists to perform a necropsy, Martin’s team took measurements, photos and skin and teeth samples for analysis by scientists with the National Marine Fisheries Service.

"Normally, we see one to three (pygmy sperm whale strandings) a year," Martin said. "Overall, along the East Coast, we’re seeing more stranded."

The last pygmy sperm whale stranding was July 25 on Jupiter Island. Another whale beached itself while still alive on July 1 in the same area, but nearby workers pushed the sick whale back into the ocean.

There were at least four other beached whales on the Treasure Coast last year.

Last year, scientists with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution determined the increased numbers of whale strandings was due to heart failure. Studies are underway to pinpoint a possible cause and cure.

Since this latest stranding occurred outside of sea turtle nesting season, county park workers planned to bury the whale on the beach, Martin said.

( source : www.tcpalm.com )

5th February

Entangled Adult Seal - Dovercourt, Essex

On Monday (2nd Feb) I was called by the coastguards to a seal reported trapped in fishing nets 100 meters off shore at Dovercourt. I tried to contact other medics with no joy so put a call in to headquarters and Alan (Knight) contacted the lady in the shop at Dovercourt who sent a friend to help. On arrival I found a grey seal (adult) caught in a Trammel net. Whilst scratching me head wondering best course of action (seal in net 100m out no boat, how deep water etc) the owner of the net arrived and informed me that it would be at least two hours before water would be shallow enough to wade out. I then contacted Coastguards to see if local inshore lifeboat would launch to assist, as luck would have it the friend from the shop was mates with one of the crew and three volunteers were found and they came to help. The plan was to pull the net up from its anchors and bring the whole lot to shore so the seal could be assessed and freed, but as things happen the net was well secured and after 10 minutes struggling to get the net up some how the seal became untangled and swam off hopefully unharmed and a bit wiser.

On the forum I reported that we had a grey seal pup, our fourth ever, well it seems we had two this year I found another in an area that we have not had greys before. Unfortunately this one must have died after a couple of days, hard to tell why as the stomach had been opened up by Gulls (how i found it).

Leon Woodrow - Marine Mammal Medic

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Another Pup for BDMLR Montrose

February 5th, Montrose Coordinator Elaine Roft was alerted of a Grey seal pup at Inverbervie. Kate Santer, Volunteer with the group arrived on scene reporting back that the pup was in a terrible mess. Elaine and Bob Pert arrived at the location at 6.30 pm where they were met by a very agressive pitiful looking pup. It was taken to local vets where Mike Robson then spoke with laurence Brain. The decision was made by Laurence to transport the seal to him without medication etc so that he could analyse for himself. The pup named "Bald-Rick" was a bit thin on the hips, it had severe alopecia to the head, neck and shoulders, there were lesions covering most of its body that had scabbed over, open lesions that were bleeding on all 4 flippers and a cream discharge from both eyes and the nostrils. Despite all this, the seal pup was very aggressive, alert and responsive.

Elaine and Bob arrived at Laurences Brains at 9.30pm where Bald-Rick immediately took to his pool and had a good old swim. He was then fed some fish. James Barnett was notified and asked to call Laurence at his request to see if skin scrapings and blood tests should be sent to him to determine the cause of the alopecia. Once again, apologies to BDMLR Fraserburgh for not doing a relay, but this pup would not have gone in our vari-Kennel, and it was easier for us to herd it into the holding tank for transportation.

Many thanks to Kate, Mike Robson and Mrs Boddamin for their help. James Barnett has just confirmed that Laurence Brain will be carrying out a skin biopsy and BDMLR will pay to have this done.

Elaine Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Coordinator (covers Inverbervie - Easthaven)

[ Pics : Bob Pert ]

9th February

Grey Seal trapped in fishing net freed at Godrevy, Cornwall.

8th February

At about 11:00am I received a call from Tamara at Gweek Seal Sanctuary, who reported that a Grey Seal had been seen at Mutton Cove, Godrevy, with fishing net caught around its body and was causing it some difficulty.

David, Lesley and Phillip Jarvis and myself all travelled to the site to assess the situation, and also contacted the West Cornwall North coordinator Tim Bain to inform him of what was happening.

At the site, we met with Sue Sayer, who originally called the Sanctuary about the seal. Using her telescope we could clearly see a juvenile seal with monofilament net wrapped around its body at the bottom of the cliffs in the cove. A short time later, Tim arrived with Colin Grant, who is also a Coastguard, and as the site is on a National Trust area, a member of their organisation was contacted and informed of the incident. After further assessment of the seal, it was decided that the Coastguard should be called out to assist with the rescue, as the cove is not easily accessible, and the easiest way down into it is to abseil. BDMLR Director Mark Stevens (who was dealing with a porpoise at the time!) was also advised of the incident.

When the Coastguard arrived on the scene, Tim briefed them on the situation, and the decision was made that two members of their team would go down into the cove. Before going down, Tim instructed the Coastguards of how to approach and handle the seal, and how to check for injuries on its flippers and other health and safety precautions. After this, the Coastguards began their descent down the cliffs.

Once in the cove, communication was maintained using two-way radios, and the two Coastguards in the cove observed the animal before moving in on it. Once on the animal, they cut off the net and checked for injuries – of which none were found. Tim then gave them the all clear for the animal to be released, upon which it rapidly moved towards the sea. During proceedings, a telephone contact was maintained with Gweek to keep them in the picture.

Throughout the incident, the other Medics had been talking to the small crowd that continued to gather at the clifftop to watch the spectacle, and many of them showed interest in our work.

Thanks to everyone who turned up for this rescue, especially the Coastguard whose assistance, speed and efficiency is very much appreciated. Hopefully we will be able to maintain this relationship with them for the future.

Medic Daniel Jarvis
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
West Cornwall North Area

Pic Credits - Dan Jarvis

Location of seal

Dave Jarvis & Tim Bain with the Coastguard

Coastguards abseiling into cove

Coastguards assessing seal

Next Pics credit - Sue Sayer

9th February

Speeding boat strikes baby whale - Maui, Hawaii
9th February

A young whale was hit and injured by a speeding boat Sunday evening, attracting sharks before its mother ushered or pushed it out to sea, police said. Lahaina police Sgt. Wendell Loo said the collision occurred shortly before 6 p.m. about 200 to 300 yards offshore of Puamana beach park.
"Evidently this guy was out there cruising, speeding along in his little boat when it hit the baby whale," Loo said. "It was injured, I don't know how bad. It was bleeding severely and stuff, because in half an hour, sharks were all around it.

"There was a kayaker who saw the incident. He said there was a lot of blood," he said.

Loo said the boat returned to the Maalaea Small Boat Harbor, and no injuries were reported onboard - in contrast to the baby mammal.

"The mama whale was trying to protect it. . . . The last I heard, the mama took the baby out to sea." Either the parent guided the injured mammal traveling under its own power - "or the mamma was pushing it," he said.

Loo said the investigation also involved the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Coast Guard.

"A baby whale was hit by an 18- to 22-foot recreational vessel," said Petty Officer Jared Esselman, overnight watch stander at Coast Guard Station Maui.

The boat occupants included two men and two women: a Maui resident operating the boat and his son, a woman from Maui and a woman from the Mainland, he said.

An NOAA spokeswoman in Honolulu declined to comment Sunday night until she could confirm details. The NOAA's Fisheries Office of Protected Resources enforces the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Approaching humpback whales closer than 100 yards when on the water, and 1,000 feet when operating an aircraft is prohibited by federal law and can result in fines and/or jail time following a conviction.

The rules also recognize that a whale can approach a boat, requiring any boat in the vicinity of a whale to shut down its engines.

The most recent reported high-profile collision between a boat and a whale in Maui County waters happened Jan. 5, when the whale surfaced in front of a fishing boat off Kahakuloa before hitting the side of the boat.

The boat operator said he tried to avoid the whale, but the impact of the whale hitting the boat caused the 27-year-old operator to hit his head on the boat. Officials have said there was nothing in the January incident to indicate that the operator was negligent.

On the Net: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service marine mammal protection: http://www.nmfs.hawaii.edu/psi/mammals.html

( source : www.mauinews.com )

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Whale dies off the coast of Haifa - Israel
9th Febraury

A female minke whale died off the coast of Haifa yesterday after becoming entangled in a fishing net and drowning.

Volunteers from Haifa University's Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center managed to pull the whale out of the sea and took her for examination at the organization's center in Mikhmoret.

Fishermen contacted Oz Goffman, the head of the organization, yesterday morning and told him that a whale was entangled in a net. The fishermen managed to drag the mammal toward the Carmel beach area, where the center's volunteers freed the body. The operation generated much interest and dozens of curious onlookers rushed to see what was going on.

Goffman says only two other such whales have been spotted off the coast of Israel in the last decade.

By carrying out an autopsy on the whale, researchers will be able to learn about whales in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as pollution levels in the sea. Similar autopsies carried out on whales have revealed huge amounts of plastic bags in the mammal's stomach.

Whales are a protected species and most fishermen adhere to the laws prohibiting harm to them or hunting them. Two years ago, however, when a whale of the same species died in a fishing net, someone tried to sell it off for meat in Acre.

The minke whale is common to the Atlantic Ocean, though it sometimes finds its way into the Mediterranean. Adults can reach up to 10 meters in length, and weigh several tons. The cow found yesterday was a very young adult, was four meters long and weighed 800 kilograms.

( source : www.haaretz.com )

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Endangered right whale calf dies after Amelia Island beaching - Florida
5th February

Despite rescue attempts, a newborn right whale calf still attached to its umbilical cord beached itself and died Tuesday while researchers worked to transport it to Marineland.

The right whale is considered the most endangered marine mammal in the north hemisphere with only 300 left, said University of Florida veterinary pathologist Kendal Harr.

The whale's body was taken to the University of Florida, where researchers said it will take about a month before they know why the 13-foot, 3,000-pound male whale died.

Right whales have been protected since 1935 after they were nearly hunted to extinction.

Though excited at the prospects of being able to study the rare whale, researchers were saddened by the death.

"Everyone's kind of got these mixed emotions," Harr said.

The animals got their name because whalers considered them the "right" whale to hunt. They were slow-moving, migrated close to shore, were rich in blubber and stayed afloat after being killed, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Each year, in the fall and early winter, the whales leave the North Atlantic waters near Nova Scotia and New England and travel south to the warmer waters off north Florida and south Georgia to give birth.

( source : www.news-journalonline.com )

CRRU summer fieldwork opportunities

For full information on the CRRU's 2004 Ecocorps training programme, which may be of interest to many of your members, please check out the following link: click HERE

We are also pleased to be able to offer a 5% discount on our 2004 prices to members of your organisation should you feel this unique opportunity is worthy of your support

Many thanks and very best wishes from myself and the team

Dr. Kevin Robinson

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU)
P.O. Box 11307
Banff AB45 3WB
SCOTLAND
Tel: (+44) 01261 851696 Emergency: (+44) 07866 925401
Email: mailbox@crru.org.uk Website: www.crru.org.uk

Affiliated with the Greystoke Foundation. Scottish Charity SC028400
Co-operation partners Ecocorps Scotland Ltd (UK) & Ecovolunteer (Netherlands)

London Dive Show - Volunteers Required !

The London International Dive show (LIDS) takes place on March 27/28 at the ExCel Centre. As usual BDMLR will have a stand there.

We want to engage people in discussions about our work and raise some money. Following last year's record breaking NEC show it will be a tough act to follow. Can you help? Want to come to the show for a day, a weekend or even a couple of hours. You'll get the chance to look around the dive show, maybe meet a Cousteau or two!

If you can spare some time please email me at mark@bdmlr.org.uk and let me know what you are prepared to do.

Thanks

Mark Stevens
Director
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Email : mark@bdmlr.org.uk

15th February

Pup Found Too Late To Save

Montrose (Inverbervie- Easthaven) Medic Thom McNeil came across a pup whilst doing his regular beach patrol on February 15th. The fully weaned female Grey, named "Hatty" was entwined in monofilament netting which had caused severe injury to its neck, and had sadly died before being found. BDMLR Director & vet, James Barnett confirmed that the neck wound was "recent".

Thom called Medic Bob Pert and between them both they buried "Hatty" on the local stretch that Thom patrols. Pictures were passed on to the Tayside Police Wildlife Liaison Officers working with the Montrose group for their files, with an aim and pleas for discarded netting to be brought ashore rather than being tossed out at sea.

Earlier on in the day 2 schools of dolphins with numbers as high as 50 had been reported to the group in the area that the pup was found. Sad as it was, there was slight relief that to date, there has only been 1 casualty caught in this dreaded monofilament netting, although the Montrose team have had 2 pups so far this year caught up in discarded netting, with 1 pup having to be euthenased, and the recent one mentioned, already dead.

Elaine Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Coordinator (covers Inverbervie - Easthaven)

[ pic credit : Bob Pert ]

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Another seal rescued from Godrevy, Cornwall.

14th February.

For a few weeks local medics have been aware of a young Grey Seal at Godrevy, Hayle, which had fishing net wrapped around its midsection and as it has grown, has been gradually cutting into it. Unfortunately, poor weather conditions and the absence of the animal on some occasions have prevented us from rescuing it before now. During this period, medics and volunteers from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust have been keeping watch on Mutton Cove where it has been hauling out, and reporting back to both local BDMLR West Cornwall North coordinator Tim Bain and Gweek Seal Sanctuary.

On Wednesday 11th, Glenn Boyle, curator of the Seal Sanctuary, had been called up to the cove when the seal had been spotted about an hour before dusk. He, along with one of his staff, BDMLR coordinator Tim Bain and medic Simon Money, had climbed part of the way down a slope into the cove to try to assess the seal, but as it was too dark not much information about its condition could be gathered.

Today, at approximately 3pm, medics Dave, Lesley and Phil Jarvis and myself met Tim at the site, and using a telescope provided by volunteer Sue Sayer, could see the seal at the bottom of the cliffs in Mutton Cove. A large gash was also clearly visible around its abdomen, and it was quickly decided that Gweek should be informed, and also the Coastguard for assistance.

Shortly afterwards, Jo from the Seal Sanctuary arrived and gave a more thorough assessment of the seal, and called out Glenn, Marianne and Fleur from the Sanctuary for assistance. In the meantime, the Coastguard arrived on the site and begun preparing their equipment while Tim and Jo advised them of the seal’s injuries and the health and safety issues when dealing with live seals.

While the rest of the Gweek team was en route, two members of the Coastguard’s team abseiled into the cove with a net, to prevent the seal from escaping into the sea. Medics Gary Hawkins and Caroline Curtis also arrived to give their support at this point.

Once Glenn and his team arrived, they began getting their equipment ready while Glenn was briefed by Tim and Jo of the situation, and he then began to get ready to descend into the cove with another of the Coastguard team with more rescue equipment.

After reaching the bottom of the cove, Glenn assessed the seal again, and he and the Coastguards in the cove were able to capture the seal in a special stretcher, which was then hoisted up the cliff, supported by two of the Coastguards. Glenn and the other Coastguard then began their ascent, while the rest of the Seal Sanctuary team and BDMLR medics assessed the seal by torchlight, and placed it in a cage. The cage was then loaded on to the back of a trailer and taken to the Seal Sanctuary where the net was cut off and its wounds given emergency treatment.

The net had cut all around the circumference of its abdomen, and was especially bad on the underside, where it had opened up a gash about 3 - 4 inches wide and almost 2 inches deep through blubber and muscle. As the net was cut off it made an audible ‘twang’, and was measured at 60cm in length. Despite these injuries, ‘Rush’ as he is now known, is lively and alert in his temporary new home.

Thanks to all the medics and staff from Gweek who helped with this rescue, in particular Glenn, and also once again to the Coastguard from Portreath Cliff Rescue, without whom this rescue would not have been so quickly and efficiently carried out.

Medic Daniel Jarvis
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
West Cornwall North Area

[ pic credits : Caroline Curtis, Sue Sayer and Dan Jarvis ]

22nd February

Latest Seal Rescue for BDMLR Montrose

Sunday February 22nd Montrose Coordinator Elaine Roft & Medic Bob Pert made their way to "The Homes"at 6.30pm where a seal pup had been observed earlier in the day. Local man & Fisherman Roy Mitchell escorted the Medics to where the pup was hauled out....miles away by foot! with no closer access for the car. Bob trudged his way back to collect the holding tank after the pup had been located, leaving Elaine and Roy guarding the young fully weaned grey in the pitch dark, with the moon and stars for light! and towels wrapped round them for warmth..the things we do on a rescue! The long journey on foot was then made back to the car helped by our guide who thankfully knew the coastline,even in the dark,where the pup was then taken to Montrose facilities at 8.30pm where Elaine and Bob were able to thaw out before examining the pup. James Barnett was consulted due to fluctuations with the pup appearing puffed up and healthy one minute, then scrawny, thin and dehydrated the next. It was rehydrated with 150mls zoolyte and left to rest overnight after examination showed no signs of sores / lesions / cuts etc with the gums and eyes being a lovely healthy pink colour.The medics did however, note a reluctance for the pup to use its left fore flipper.

Monday morning saw Elaine and fellow Medic Rebecca Chambers check "Mitch" over, rehydrate him, take a temperature reading which was normal and spray his mouth and face with some water before transporting him to Laurence Brain at New Deer. Sally Brain made coffee for Elaine & Rebecca upon their arrival with "Mitch" and informed them that sadly "Spangle" and "Baldrick" BDMLR Montrose's latest rescues had both died. Probable cause of death for Spangle was lungworm and as he never got over his bout of black tarry diarrhoea, he perhaps had gastrointestinal problems. Cause of death for Baldrick was not confirmed as Laurence was away when the Medics arrived. Biopsy results for this pup have still to be confimed.

Sincere thanks goes to Roy for guiding us to the pup and for helping us to carry him the long journey back to the car in the dark and freezing cold....even with a headlamp torch for guidance we couldnt have done this without you.

Apologies also to James Barnett If I woke you up!!...... I didnt realise that the electric meter had run out whilst I was out on call and that the clock was set an hour ahead! Thanks also to Wilma and John of the Esk Hotel for the coffee after the pup was settled for the night.

Elaine Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Coordinator (covers Inverbervie - Easthaven)