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January
2002 News |
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Regional Meeting
Wednesday 22nd
There is a regional meeting
for all Bristol & Somerset Marine Mammal Medics on Wednesday 29th
January.
Everyone is welcome to the
Berkley Pub, Park St/Queens Rd, Bristol at 7pm.
Nicki Grint.
BDMLR Bristol & Somerset
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Little-known
whale dies after stranding on Waiheke Island - New Zealand.
Wednesday 22nd
 So
little is known about the type of whale stranded on Waiheke Island
that scientists cannot even say for sure whether it is rare or not.
A 4m female Gray's beaked
whale, which stranded and died at West Onetangi Beach on Sunday, was
yesterday towed away for burial by Department of Conservation (DOC)
staff.
In spite of bleeding from the
stranding and the presence of round nips on its body from cookie cutter
sharks, the whale was in good condition, leading DOC staff to consider
whether it had died after eating some plastic.
Using echo location, a whale
can mistake a plastic bag for a squid which the beaked whales are
known to feed on. This can lead to starvation as the whale cannot
then feed properly.
"They can suck in a plastic
bag and think it's a squid and that's the end of that," said
DOC biodiversity programme manager Simon Mowbray.
Mr Mowbray said the whale did
not show signs of starvation and the cause of death may never be established.
An autopsy will be carried
out on the whale.
Marine mammal biologist Rochelle
Constantine, of the University of Auckland School of Biological Sciences
molecular ecology and evolution laboratory, said about 15 of 21 species
of Southern Hemisphere beaked whales were found in New Zealand waters.
While strandings of beaked
whales were not uncommon in New Zealand, so little was known about
the animals that it was hard to say whether they were rare.
But Dr Constantine said if
the whales were fairly common there would have been more sightings.
"Until we know more about
these whales we can only assume there aren't many of them."
The whales live in deep water
and individually or in small groups.
"They are enigmatic. They
really are an unknown quantity. We assume we would see more if they
were common and if they were in abundance, but honestly I don't think
they are."
A research team has collected
genetic samples from the whale for a university database established
to increase understanding of the whales.
( Source : www.stuff.co.nz
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BDMLR-Tayforth
Wednesday 22nd
As acting information officer
for BDMLR-Tayforth, and with approval from Gareth Norman -Regional
co-ordinator for Tayside & the rest of the medics, this email
is sent to clear a few discrepancies that seem to have arisen from
an e mail posted earlier this evening.
Tayforth had a brief discussion today to overcome and hopefully resolve
the current problem of staffing issues, and at the time we also felt
that one of our seals was now in fact ready to be moved on to Middlebank
for pre-release, with our other seal
staying with us for now until she gains the feeding regime and weight
required before being moved on.
It would appear that a decision
was made quoting that we are now closed - which indeed is not the
case! An emergency meeting will be arranged so that these discrepancies
can be resolved, and to give ALL medics a chance to have their say,
put forward times that they are available for feeding, and most importantly
putting the welfare of the seals first. No definite decision to close
the unit meantime was made, and as Information officer for Tayforth,
I express sincere apologies to ALL who received the email which was
sent out rather hastily, and without the other medics or regional
co-ordinator being notified.
Regards
Elaine Roft
pp Gareth Norman BDMLR/TAYFORTH
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Biologists
looking for right whale off east coast - U.S.
Tuesday 21st
 State
biologists are asking for help in finding an entangled right whale
swimming off Florida's east coast.
The right whale was first spotted
Tuesday swimming south. It was 15 miles off Ponte Vedra Beach ( photo
) south of Jacksonville with about 50 feet of yellow line trailing
from the left side of its mouth.
Jamison Smith, a biologist
with the Florida Marine Research Institute, said the whale could be
anywhere along the east coast. He said three aerial survey teams will
be looking for it along the North Florida and South Georgia coasts
over the next several days, if weather conditions allow.
State officials said they can't
tell what kind of a line the whale is trailing, nor if the situation
is life-threatening.
But once biologists locate
the whale, they will try to assess the situation and either try to
cut off some of the line or attach a satellite tag to monitor the
whale's movements.
[ For more detail, including
a photo of the whale, take a look at the Center for Coastal Studies
page at : http://www.coastalstudies.org/rescue/latest.htm
]
( Source : www.naplesnews.com
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European Cetacean
Bycatch Campaign
Tuesday 21st
Dear Friends,
Northern right whales urgently
need your help. Right now there are only about 300 of these whales
left. They are headed toward extinction unless aggressive action is
taken to protect them and their habitat.
The National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) is considering a petition to expand the area designated
as Northern right whale critical habitat in northeast and southeast
U.S. waters. This proposal, if adopted, could open the door for increased
protection from shipping, commercial fishing, military training, dredging
and other harmful activities.
Please respond to this alert and let NMFS know you support the proposed
expansion of the Northern right whale critical habitat. They need
to hear from you by January 21, so please respond today!
To take action, please visit
the site below to send your letter.
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/RightwhaleCH/w58xw64q783ndm
Thank you,
Mary Stuart.
ECBC
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Porpoise
Stranding - Bridlington U.K.
21-01-03
Hello, Stephen Routledge here from
the Scarborough Group.
We had a porpoise stranding today at
Bridlington on the Yorkshire coast. Local coastguard, and RSPCA
notified our area co-ordinator, Doug Cartilage, and he and Paul
Bullimore, from the local Sealife Centre, refloated and released
it.
I will have more information and hopefully
some photos soon.
Just keeping you up to date.
Regards
Stephen Routledge
Harbour porpoise
Bridlington North Bay - 21 Jan 03
Local RSPCA inspector Geoff
Edmonds at 1530 on his way to a “very large fish” stranded
on the Bridlington’s North beach initiated the call.
Geoff felt sure it was a dolphin
or porpoise and requested our assistance. Within minutes HM Coastguard
 officer
Simon Drayton called to confirm it was around a 6ft porpoise that
was surrounded by well-intentioned people trying to push it back
into the surf. He responded immediately to my request to keep everyone
back and watch over it. Simon actually went into the surf clad only
in his uniform and oilskins and stood guard over it until we arrived!!
It took just one call to BDMLR’s
office to start an East coast call out. Kate and Clare, your efficiency
always amazes me, thanks!! Was Alan out of the office packing for
Iran?! Rocky, Sue Rhodes, Steve Routledge and dear James (who also
took time out from his packing) were all standing by their phones
waiting for an update within minutes. I put a call into Paul Bullimore,
Curator of Scarborough Sea Life Centre and not only got an assurance
of a temporary pool, if needed, but Paul was ready and waiting with
dry suits and other equipment to supplement our own as I arrived
at his door.
On route the calls were getting
serious, the tide was rising, surf was getting rougher, light was
fading and the  porpoise
was getting rolled about on shingle. Simon and Geoff immediately
put protection under the animal and as we were stuck in heavy traffic
started considering plans to relocate to a calmer area.
Paul and myself arrived with
very little daylight left and suited up. By this time Simon was
looking more than a little cold, but still full of enthusiasm! So
I lent him a BDMLR survival suit and my boots. As soon as we got
on the beach it was obvious the porpoise was in excellent physical
condition. What we had was a full-grown male harbour porpoise with
clear lung sounds and strong clear respiration, bright eyes, pink
mouth and no obvious signs of injury or illness, except 2 minor
abrasions from sand and shingle.
While we had a pool standing
by at Scarborough Sea Life Centre and more than sufficient volunteers
arranged by Rocky and Steve Routledge. I felt it worthwhile to see
how the porpoise would fare if given the opportunity to get past
the surf line. We quickly discussed the options of euthanasia, transportation
and temporary confinement, weighed them up and decided to see what
would happen if we got it into calmer water.
Paul, Simon and myself took
it out through the breakers, expecting to spend more than a few
minutes frolicking in the North Sea on a “rather” cool
January evening! However, within minutes of being on the other side
of the surf line the porpoise was showing signs of wanting to be
off. The tail strokes were increasing in strength and there was
no sign of loss of balance or any disorientation. So we released
him and  watched
as he swam strongly straight out to sea….
Scarborough BDMLR volunteers,
RSPCA, Coastguards and local authority workers have been checking
the beaches since first light. All are clear and there is no sign
of a distressed porpoise anywhere…so we’re off to the
pub tonight for a well-earned Kaliber…well maybe a Guinness
or three!
As soon as I receive the promised
photo’s from RSPCA I’ll post them, and as a post script,
I’d like to add that while some of us, myself included, have
“reservations” about some of Sea Life Centres commercial
plans. Without their support last night one porpoise would certainly
have been euthanased. Or it would have been subjected to a stressful
transportation and the known problems of confinement. As it is we
are all confident that this one little chap is back with his own,
and maybe even explaining to his kin how good the Yorkshire arm
of BDMLR’s strandings teams did on that cold January evening,
when he got himself stuck on the beach in Bridlington without a
deckchair or sunglasses!
A BIG THANKS TO ALL…
Cheers
Doug Cartlidge.
Lone
whale found dead after rescue
Tuesday 21st
One of the whales rescued from shallow water near Busselton on Tuesday
was found dead on rocks near Dunsborough early yesterday.
Another Gray's beaked whale
which broke from the rescue party stranded itself again about 5km
west of Busselton in the morning but was returned to sea later in
the day.
Department of Conservation
and Land Management recreational planner Neil Taylor said he had been
optimistic initially that all the whales would survive the stranding.
"It (the death) is really
disappointing but that is nature and we have done everything we can,"
he said. "We know the members of the public who have helped so
much will be sad as well."
Found and lost: CALM officers
inspect the body of a Gray's beaked whale at Eagle Bay. It was identified
by injection marks from its earlier rescue. PICTURE: JOHN EVANS
The 5m female whale had no
obvious injuries and was identified by puncture marks where vitamins
and antibiotics had been administered on Tuesday. It was found at
Eagle Bay, north-west of Dunsborough.
The whale's death could prove
valuable to scientists, who know very little about the species. An
autopsy was done yesterday afternoon by CALM officers to try to establish
the cause of death.
The whale which returned to
the coast yesterday morning was spotted by a member of the public
early yesterday. CALM crews repeated the operation they performed
on Tuesday night, hooking the whale up to a sling and towing it by
boat out to deeper water 5km off Cape Naturaliste.
"We lost one but I think
we should regard this as a good result," Mr Taylor said. "It
is all a credit to the public who came down and generously assisted."
( Source : www.thewest.com.au
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Wave of volunteers
to save whales - Western Australia
Friday 17th
Click to enlarge |
Six stranded whales were towed out to deep
water off Busselton yesterday after a rescue attempt involving hundreds
of volunteers.The six Gray's beaked whales had strayed into shallow
water in Geographe Bay, 4km west of the South-West town, about 7am.The
Department of Conservation and Land Management ( CALM ) was alerted
and sent officers and a vet.The vet declared the five females and
a calf fit, but an initial bid to redirect the whales out to sea
failed when the mammals returned to the shallows.They were then
kept wet and calm while equipment was brought in. Slings were attached
to the whales and vessels belonging to the Fisheries Department,
charter operators and a local resident towed them 5km beyond Cape
Naturaliste yesterday afternoon.
One of the whales swam from
its sling and was seen heading east towards Busselton.CALM recreational
planner Neil Taylor said it was the biggest whale stranding seen in
the area.He was confident the whales would stay clear of the shore
once they were returned to deeper water and he hoped the breakaway
whale would follow the pod out to sea.
CALM staff supervising the
operation were astounded at the number of people who volunteered to
help.An estimated 2000 people turned up throughout the day.
 
"We have had a queue like
going into a premiere of a movie for people registering to go out
there and help with the managing of the animals," Mr Taylor said.
Mandalay Holiday Resort owner
Clive Johnson, whose caravan park overlooks the stranding site, said
the whales were hardly ever seen in the area.
"I have lived on the caravan
park for 39 years and this is the first time this has happened here
and only the second time we have seen them here," he said.
Dick Keyser was spending a
relaxing holiday in Busselton one minute and the next was waist-deep
in water helping to keep a whale alive.
"I was out there for an
hour and a half, with 10 to 14 people, hanging on to one of them,
he said. "It is the first time I have been involved in anything
like this."
Marine mammal researcher Nick
Gales said Gray's beaked whales wereextremely social animals adapted
to living offshore and these characteristics could have lead to the
stranding.
"(In shallow water) they
simply get confused about where they are because they live most of
their lives in deep water," he said.
Dr Gales said their strong
social bonds, essential in a deep-water existence, would have lead
to one animal bringing the rest of the pod into the shallow water.
The last reported stranding
of a Gray's beaked whale was in January last year when one was found
washed up on Leighton Beach and two were reported stranded near Albany
a few days before.
( Source : www.thewest.com.au
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Humpback Whale
Research - Volunteers
Friday 17th
I was wondering if anyone would
be able to help me with my humpback whale research trips to the Caribbean
in March and or SE Alaska in June. I am a marine biologist, self funding
my PhD research (University of Wales Swansea) and rely on paying volunteers
for help to collect data and to cover the costs of the trips. I'm
really desperate for volunteers for Silver Bank in the Caribbean for
March, and need people who would be able to snorkel with the humpbacks,
collecting skin samples from the water and film / observe behaviour,
sex them etc, although as long as they are comfortable in a small
zodiac at sea, they can do some surface observations, note taking,
GPS positions etc (I certainly won't force anyone to get into the
water with the whales, but it's a fantastic experience!!). All the
details of the trips can be seen on my web site www.wildhorizons.org
under 'research expeditions' and details of the research I'm doing
under 'research'. I can send info and application forms out, just
email me via the web site or on my personal email, ruthsearle@yahoo.com
or fax on 01656 880480
Thanks so much,
Ruth Searle
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Seasearch Programme
Friday 17th
Geoff Graham ME & CT co-ordinator.
"We are starting a Seasearch programme
in Kent this year. This may well be of interest to BDMLR members
- as most will have an interest in marine wildlife. There will
be a some training on marine ecology and species id (from algae
to whales) and some planned diving. There should also be the opportunity
to obtain a certificate in Marine Life ID. Dates are yet to be
decided but anyone interested is warmly invited to email me on
jonathan.bramley@btopenworld.com"
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Dundee Seal Unit - Update
Friday 17th
Dear all,
As mentioned last week, I have just returned from Dundee and they
now have their first two seal pups in.
I am really impressed with the whole Tayforth Group, they have really
risen to the challenge and opened up an excellent centre.
Gareth Norman has just been offered the barracks for a nominal rent
on an extended basis, so it looks like we can offer an emergency
rescue service for both common and grey seals in the future. The
Barracks at Broughty Ferry Castle are located right on the beach
so will also be an excellent base for Marine Mammal Medic courses
as well.
 
Click to enlarge
Regards
Alan Knight
BDMLR Director
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Just
a quick message.
Tuesday 14th
Lucie White ( BDMLR National
Co-ordinator ) has had an accident with her laptop. She will be off
line until it has received some TLC from Nick Kail.
You can contact Lucie via her phone contact details.
Cheers,
Tony.
Exmouth BDMLR Co-ordinator & News/Info Service.
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A message from
Elaine Roft at the new Dundee Seal Unit
(DDSU).
Tuesday 14th
On Saturday 4th January, the
Dundee seal unit welcomed its first arrival of grey seals for the
year - "ANDY" & "SPARKLE". Both were transported
from Alistair Jacks premises at John o Groats, to the Dundee facility
by Hazel Dean (apologies Hazel if I got your surname wrong). A huge
thanks goes from all at Tayforth to you Hazel for not only driving
the full distance with the "kids", but also for your guidance
and help throughout the day. Alistair and Hazel are being informed
of the pups progress via myself along with any updates on new arrivals
to the unit. Tubes and finger guards arrived at my door today (Tuesday)
so I shall hand them in on Friday when I do my shift of feeds. Thanks
for those supplies Alistair. I shall send pics of the pups over the
next few weeks once I have enough to burn to cd.
And here was me thinking I
was the only soppy one that gets attached!!
Sunday saw the intake of another
grey seal pup from Invergordon which Nick Duthie picked up and brought
in, but sadly after battling through the night and most of Monday
morning the little one passed away. Well done to Caroline and Dawn
(non medics) about to be soon! for their determination and perseverance
for rescuing the pup themselves after a brief talk through on the
phone, and for meeting Nick at Inverness which reduced his journey.
Will keep you all posted as
to Andy and Sparkles progress and release date.
Regards
Elaine Roft.
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Falkland
Islands - Mass Stranding
Thursday 9th
Dear all,
I'm very sorry to pass on this message form Sarah Clement of Falkland
Conservation. (Sarah had the dubious honour of looking after Alan
and I during our visit and worked very hard mastering techniques so
that we had a trained instructor way down there! Her Mum is also very
good at sewing up trousers)
You may have seen items in New Scientist about mass penguin mortalities.
Now this from Sarah........
"We have had awful news here of 100 stranded Pilot whales, they
were found too late and they were in a hard area to get to and are
all dead. Very sad, got the news New Years eve. The 'lads' went out
on Friday with a team of people and carried out tests on the bodies.
We had an electrical storm about a week before we reckon they stranded,
so maybe that was something to do with it ?"
Sarah Clement
Mark Stevens
Director BDMLR
email: mark@bdmlr.org.uk
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Harbour
Porpoise Survey
Thursday 9th
Hello and happy New Year to all of you. We'd like to thank everyone
who helped us during 2002 - be prepared for an even busier 2003.
To get us started we have organised
a number of survey dates for the first half of this year. These are
weather dependent and an email will be sent 7 days before the date
of the survey as a reminder. Unfortunately if a survey date is cancelled
due to bad weather (we're unable to survey if the sea state is greater
than 2) an email will not be sent informing you of the cancellation
and the change of date until 48/24 hrs before the survey. This is
due to the uncertainty of weather forecasts and how quickly the conditions
change on the north coast of Anglesey.
For people new to the survey
there will be adequate training provided either in the class room
or out in the field. New observers will be put with experienced observers
at all times in the field.
The weather can feel very warm
in Bangor/inland but out on the cliffs things are often very different.
It is ESSENTIAL that you come with adequate clothing i.e. warm thermal
t-shirts & bottoms, jumpers, fleeces, hats, gloves, scarf and
most of all a warm water proof jacket and trousers. Also vital you
bring a packed lunch and preferably a flask of hot tea, coffee or
soup.
The Harbour Porpoise survey
is exciting and fun and you are able to spend time in some of the
most beautiful areas on the north coast Anglesey (just been designated
an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The porpoises can be very
abundant and extremely active and there is always chance of seeing
Bottlenose Dolphins, Grey Seals and many different sea birds Gannets,
Guillemots, Razorbills, Manx Shearwater, Black Guillemots only 6 pairs
breed on Anglesey, Cormorants, Shags, Terns many waders Curlew, Oystercatchers,
Purple Sandpiper, Red & Green Shank etc, the most charismatic
of Corvids the Chough and numerous birds of prey Peregrine, Buzzards,
Kestrels etc.
The survey normally lasts around
6 hrs. We meet at the University Bramble Building in Bangor at 9:30am
and at the CO-OP car park in Menai Bridge at 9:45 and aim to arrive
back at approx. 17:00hrs. Its important you email or phone to let
us know you are coming so we able to arrange transport. It is very
helpful if people can bring their own car and we able to provide some
money towards fuel costs.
DATES:
Sunday 12th January
Sunday 9th February
Sunday 9th March
Sunday 6th April
Sunday 4th May
Sunday 8th June
Sunday 6th July
You can contact either Emily,
Richard or George on the following numbers:
Tel: 01248 351560
Mob: 07870691033
or alternatively send an email
to info@saveourseas.co.uk.
Thanks for reading - we look
forward to seeing some of you, perhaps all of you, soon.
All the best.
George
Marine Awareness North Wales
http://www.saveourseas.co.uk
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London
Dive Show - Volunteers ?
Thursday 9th
Calling all medics in the South East (and beyond)
The London Dive Show takes place on March 1st - 2nd this year.
Anyone who is able to help at the show, fund-raising, talking to the
public etc.....is welcome! Maybe you can do a day, 1/2 day. If you
are coming anyway and can spare a couple of hours to give others a
lunch break it would really be appreciated..
It is hard work so the more we can spread it around the easier it
is for all.
This is a premier event we need to put on a good show and raise loads
of money. I have a feeling 2003 could be a hectic year!
Please contact me on my email address if you can help.
Thanks in advance
PS Isn't it great news about the Dundee Centre !
Mark Stevens
Director BDMLR
email: mark@bdmlr.org.uk
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BDMLR Training Course
Tuesday 7th
At the Bath Arms in Cheddar (S.West) on
18th January 2003.
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'Orca' Stranding
- River Humber
Sunday 5th
Message from Sue Rhoades MMM
Hull
Called at 09:30 on Christmas
morning to a reported Orca stranding at Stallingborough flats which
lie between Grimsby and Immingham on the River Humber.
As coxswain 'on call' for the
Humber Rescue lifeboat that morning I was able to gather a crew to
attend the site as High water was only one hour away. Stallingborough
flats are a mix of very soft mud and sand.
I called Jimmy Brett who was
gathering the equipment together at his Lincoln home and we both waited
for the report due in from the RSPCA Inspector 'on call' for the area
who was already on his way to the site. Approximately 30 minutes later
a call was received at the Humber Coastguard station from the original
observer to state that the whale had got itself off and was under
way. As the animal was only seen by one anonymous observer it is assumed
that it was a dolphin and not an Orca as they tend to strand and free
themselves frequently in this area due to the nature of the benthos.
I checked with the coastguard that this was a genuine call and they,
with their experience, seemed to think that it was. I was however
aware that Free Willy had been on the telly the day before and that
this could have been mistaken identity ??
Sue Rhoades
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Dundee Seal
Unit - Volunteers Needed
Sunday 5th
The Dundee seal unit opened
its doors on 04.01.03 to accommodate 2, possibly 3 grey seal pups.
If you have transport and are willing to help the Tayforth group
at the unit with these and future seals then please contact us.
Regards
Elaine Roft
Seal Assessment Unit
The Barracks
Castle Parade
Broughty Ferry
By Dundee
Tayside
Scotland
Alternatively call Gareth
Norman on 07836327815..Regional co-ordinator for Tayside
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Harbour
Porpoise at Heacham South on Christmas Eve
Sunday 5th
The last chance for Christmas shopping was wrecked for a few medics
in the Anglian region when at about midday on Christmas Eve (24th
December, 2002), the RSPCA passed a call for a stranded porpoise to
myself. Duane Kirk a newly qualified Medic, Helen Knott - Medic and
Marine Conservation Society Heacham Co-ordinator and Lucie White -
National Co-ordinator for the BDMLR also responded. On arrival we
found a bystander patiently walking up and down the beach collecting
water to keep the animal wet. Fortunately he had done everything right
and his only comment was 'Well I've seen flipper'. He continued to
assist us until leaving and going home to go and get changed only
to then re-emerge to see how we were getting on.
The porpoise was moved further up the beach after the local coastguard
team arrived keeping the public at bay. The coastguard vehicle was
then parked to act as a windbreak which not only made the porpoise
more comfortable but also us!! Our crew remained on scene keeping
the porpoise comfortable, Steve from East Winch then arrived to further
assess. Steve agreed with the conclusion that our team had made and
unfortunately the porpoise was euthanased. The porpoise had several
lesions all over her body, some of which were fresh, probably caused
from trashing around on the beach and some old wounds that looked
quite badly infected with some sort of virus. We are awaiting the
results of the post mortem which I am very keen to see as I have never
seen lesions like this porpoise had.
A well done to all medics
concerned, an excellently executed stranding but unfortunately a bad
result. This is now the second stranding in this area within the last
month both of which had a negative result but in saying this, both
were porpoises and the first literally died as the team arrived -
well done to Angela - Displays Curator at Gt. Yarmouth Sea Life and
Chris Brown, another Marine Mammal Medic and a Displays Supervisor
for the Sea Life group.
This latest stranding also showed how well so many different organisations
pulled together; BDMLR, The RSPCA, Sea Life, HM Coastguard and an
off duty Fireman all responded to try to help the porpoise.
It just goes to show how having teams of dedicated people all over
the country can give an extremely fast response to these stranded
animals, either refloating or ending a slow and painful death, we
can all be proud.
Kind Regards,
Kieran Copeland,
Anglian Co-ordinator, British Divers Marine Life
Rescue.
07980 558481 - Mobile
01485 540694 - Home
anglia@bdmlr.org.uk
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To all members of
Southern Marine Life Rescue
Sunday 5th
I would like to apologise
to all members of Southern Marine Life Rescue ( SMLR ) for incorrectly
implying that "BDMLR was assisted by SMLR" , concerning
the recent Portland Minke Whale incident.
( See report below )
Indeed, this was not the case ...... BDMLR was asked to assist our
colleagues of SMLR.
The veterinary surgeon who attended was Mr. Alan Ferguson.
Once again, I apologise for this inaccuracy.
Regards,
Tony Woodley.
Exmouth BDMLR Co-ordinator & News/Info Service.
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Whale
Stranded
Sunday 5th
Today (28th December, 2002)
at just before 12.00hrs midday I had a call from James Barnett,
BDMLR Veterinary Director, that there was a whale of approximately
20ft stranded at Portland Harbour, near Weymouth, U.K.
Southern Marine Life Rescue ( SMLR ) and the local Coastguard
( MCA ) were in attendance and James asked if I could muster a
volunteer or two to go with me and the new Devon Marine Animal
Rescue Ambulance complete with our pontoon set.
The initial information was that the animal was partially stranded
with it's 'nose stuck' on rocks in the port and that it had numerous
abrasions on it's body. High Water had been at 11.35hrs.
I was able to contact Exmouth MMMedic Andy Pittway who came with
me to collect the trailer and some air cylinders from SouthWest
Divers.
While we started to make our way to Portland we made our way through
the phone list to advise the Exmouth group of the incident. Zoe
Simmons and Stuart Wright also started to head East.
Before we got to Portland we spoke to the MCA who advised us that
the animal, possibly a Humpback, had been refloated and was now
in the deep water of the harbour.
We arrived at the port at 14.50hrs and were met by Jan Davey and
other volunteers from SMLR. He showed us where it was and advised
us that a boat was on its way to pick us up to go and try an assess
and I.D. the animal while it was in the water. It was imperative
to try and I.D. the animal as if it had been a 20ft Humpback it
would not be weaned.
We were able to get reasonably close and able to identify the
animal as a Minke whale of approximately 20-23ft. It was swimming
in a disorientated fashion and surfacing between 1 and 3 times
a minute. Even viewing it moving and in the water it was obvious
that this animal appeared to be underweight. The dorsal areas
of its body were flat below the dorsal fin.
I spoke with James Barnett on the phone and we agreed that there
was little that could be done at this stage and that it may well
re-strand. Jan agreed to organise volunteers to check the area
tomorrow morning for any sighting in the water or stranded.
A vet from Wareham was at the quay when we returned and was advised
of what we knew. He also agreed that the prognosis did not look
good. BDMLR Medics, Jenny Ricketts, Zoe Simmons, Stuart Wright
and Steve Vernon arrived later on.
Carlton TV were at the site and came on board the boat. They took
some very good footage of the animal and I hope to obtain a copy
for training purposes. I may even make a small video file available
... I'll let you know if I do this.
Thanks to Andy, Jenny, Stuart, Zoe and Steve who all turned out
for BDMLR and thanks also to the boat owner, SMLR and the MCA
for their assistance.
If I get any further news about this animal I will pass it on.
 
Click to enlarge
Tony.
Exmouth BDMLR Co-ordinator & News/Info
Service
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