11th
May
Hi all,
Here's an item from Kevin Robinson of the CRRU* in Scotland.
Cheers,
Tony.
Exmouth BDMLR Co-ordinator & News/Info Service.
( * - Cetacean Research (& Rescue) Unit (CRRU) Scotland - www.crru.org.uk
)
After a pretty quiet pre-Xmas season
as far as seal casualties were concerned here in the North-east Scotland,
we have had quite a steady flow of sick grey pups since February.
Medics in this area have successfully recovered 9 animals in total
since February 2002 with presenting clinical conditions ranging from
lungworm infections, to pneumonia, to minor physical injuries (some
of the patients pictured here below).
This
weekend (Sat 4th May), however, we were asked by Lawrence Brain at
Grampian Wildlife Trust if we could release a convalesced post-moulted
grey pup for him. As we rarely get the chance to return these animals
back to their environment once recovered, obviously we jumped at the
chance!
This release was made particularly enjoyable as we had arranged a
weekend BDMLR get-together in Gardenstown at the weekend. Assisted
by BDMLR Grampian Coordinator Nick Duthie, and BDMLR Tayforth vet
Helen Provan and vet nurse Kate Hoggart, we transported the eager
pup (who really couldn't wait to get out of his container) in our
well ventilated ambulance to a favourable release point at New Aberdour
beach. As you can see from the pictures below, the youngster ("Bob")
was very excitable and couldn't wait to get back out to sea! Thanks
everyone (not forgetting Kat of course) for your support - it was
a super experince and a memorable afternoon!
17th
May
Hi all,
Below are two reports concerning the stranding of a Pilot Whale near
Berwick-on-Tweed on Thursday 16th May ..... yesterday.
I have simply sent out the text at this time as I'm a bit rushed today
.... if any photos or further info arrive. I'll send it out.
Thanks to Alan and Kevin for the info.
Cheers,
Tony.
Exmouth BDMLR Co-ordinator & News/Info Service.
16-5-02
This
morning (Thurs) we received a call about some whales in low water
at the north beach at Berwick upon Tweed. BDMLR Scotland Borders Co-ordinator
David Fuller-Shapcott arrived on the scene at approx. 11:30 hrs this
morning to find a 4 metre plus long finned pilot whale (species still
to be confirmed) apparently in some trouble in the shallow water.
Initial concerns that the animal was caught in netting were dismissed,
but the whale was found circling the small bay.
Whilst a pontoon was dispatched from a nearby location, a support
team of medics was contacted and BDMLR vet Helen Provan set off to
assist from Fife.
The latest news (at 17:00 hrs) is that the pontoon has arrived on
site and a support team is being prepared. Initial hopes that the
animal would make its way out of the bay with the high water have
waned, as the animal is now having trouble keeping upright and seems
to be barrel-rolling.
Dr Kevin Robinson
CRRU
17-5-02
I
would like to report the successful release of a trapped Pilot whale
yesterday.
I received a call from Humber Coastguard at 12.30 pm yesterday 16th
May. The Coastguard had reported a stranded dolphin in Berwick on
Tweed , right on the Scottish boarder. I was given the name and number
of the person reporting the stranding. I contacted this person and
confirmed that there was an animal in difficulties but still swimming
in the bay at Berwick.
I consulted our database to see if we
had any medics in the area.. Luckily we had one medic who lived in
Berwick and I was quickly put into contact with there local co-ordinator
David Fuller- Shapcott. I am delighted to say that David took the
whole operation in his stride and arrived an hour later at the side
of the animal with a boat, drysuit and snorkelling equip. We quickly
identified the animal as a juvenile short finned Pilot whale approx
4 m long. The animal was swimming around in tight circles. I originally
thought that it may be trapped by a sandbar, and later had reports
that it may be trapped by a rope. David dived around the animal and
confirmed that it was in good body condition and swimming free. No
ropes were attached to the animal.
The high tide was due at 1815 and we decided
to see if we could coax the animal out to open sea where other whales
were waiting for it.
I contacted the coastguard at Seahouses
( 30 mins away) who have a set of our pontoons in their boat shed
. They delivered the pontoons to site along with a support vehicle
and lights.
One of our vets Helen Proven was called
in from Edinburgh and she arrived at approx 16.45. Helen discussed
the whales condition with James Barnett BDMLR vet and director and
it was decided to try and coax the animal out to sea at full tide.
I am pleased to say that the whale reacted
very well and was left several hundred yards off the beach by several
divers swimming out to meet it’s pod.
I would like to say a very BIG THANK YOU
to all involved. This rescue worked like clockwork. A special thank
you should go to Mat at Blue Reef Aquarium who is just about to do
the Marine Mammal medic course this weekend and must be the first
medic to be called out before he has done the course!
Alan
Knight
Chief Executive International Animal Rescue
( + BDMLR Director )
24th
May
Hi all,
My Thanks to Kevin Robinson for this final piece concerning the recent
Long Finned Pilot whale stranding.
Cheers,
Tony.
Exmouth BDMLR Co-ordinator & News/Info Service.
Pilot
Whale Rescue at Berwick Upon Tweed
Thurs
16 May 2002
As
a closing piece to this saga (there have been no reports of the animal
re-stranding since it was coaxed back out to sea on Thurs evening),
here are some pics of "Murphy" the long finned pilot whale
taken by Norma Wright of the Borders Underwater Search Team and BDMLR
medic.
On behalf of our Scottish BDMLR operation, I would like to thank HM
Coastguard at both Seahouses and Berwick-upon-Tweed, all our medics,
vets and co-ordinators, Berwick Holiday Park (for their access and
co-operation), Berwick Lifeboat Station and the crew of their RIB,
and members of the general public for their interest and support.
Thank you.
Kevin Robinson.
28th
May
Hi all,
Have few minutes between baby feeds to get a news story out !
Here's news of the lone Orca on which I first ran a story several
weeks ago.
Cheers,
Tony.
Exmouth BDMLR Co-ordinator & News/Info Service.
Wayward
whale to be reunited with its pod
Experts will try to return the orphaned orca to Canadian waters
25th May, 2002
American
fisheries officials have decided to rescue an orphaned killer whale
near Seattle and return it to its home waters off Vancouver Island
this July, ending months of international debate over the sick orca.
"We want to emphasize that this is a first. It has never been
done before. We don't know what the prospects are, but we think it's
worth doing it," Bob Lohn, an administrator with the U.S. fisheries
service, told a news conference yesterday.
Three weeks ago, a panel of marine biologists
from Canada and the United States had recommended the two-year-old
killer whale - named A-73 by scientists - should be re-united with
its family, a pod of the marine mammals native to northern B.C. waters.
But U.S. government officials hesitated,
afraid that the trip north could kill the sick orca.
The infant orca, which either wandered
away from its pod or was left behind after her mother's death last
summer, was first spotted swimming in Puget Sound this past January.
Recent blood tests suggest the whale does
not have a genetic defect or a virus that might contaminate other
orcas, prompting the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service to intervene
after weeks of urging from experts. ( Pic : Fred Felleman )
It will now be captured and treated before
being sent home, officials said.
The Vancouver Aquarium is expected to
lead the Canadian side of the rescue effort. Experts at the aquarium
have been pressuring the U.S. agency to speed up the rescue effort.
It claimed the whale needed to be captured soon so that it could meet
up with its family in Johnstone Strait in July.
"They've started the planning wheels
going," said John Nightingale, the aquarium director, who said
it is still not known who will pick up the tab for the rescue.
Some estimates have put the amount needed
at up to $500,000.
The U.S. agency said it will now form
a team of experts for the project. The whale could be sent north in
a Hovercraft or could take a slower-moving barge or a pen towed to
the back of a ship.
Mr. Lohn said the whale could live about
80 years if the rescue succeeds, but the stress of the capture, trip
and medical treatment could prove too much for the baby whale's weakened
immune system.
( Source : www.nationalpost.com
)
28th
May
Hi
all,
Here's another news item .... all the way from the Gulf.
Cheers,
Tony
Exmouth BDMLR Co-ordinator & News/Info Service.
Action
plan to rescue dolphin - Bahrain
24th
May, 2002
A TEAM of experts
will stage a rescue operation next month to save the life of a dolphin
which has become entangled in a nylon rope.
The specially-trained
and equipped team hopes to safely capture the female humpback dolphin
which has a tight nylon noose around its tail.
British scientist
Tim Collins, from the Oman Whale and Dolphin Research Group, has visited
Bahrain to observe the dolphin and help plan the rescue effort.
It is being jointly
organised by Bahrain's Fisheries and Marine Resources Directorate,
the Bahrain and US Coastguards, the US Navy and the Bahrain Yacht
Club (BYC).
The team hopes
to locate and capture the dolphin - who they have started calling
Tails - in the waters near the BYC in Sitra and cut the noose off
without having to tranquillise the animal.
Humpback dolphins
are an endangered species and a veterinarian will be accompanying
the team throughout the operation in case she needs medical care.
The Oman group
was alerted to Tails' condition by US Coastguard Lieutenant Timothy
Weisend after reading an article in the GDN earlier this month.
"Tails'
plight has caught the interest and concern of many and the involvement
of all the people at this stage is voluntary. Our aim here is to help
the dolphin," said BYC general manager John Maclean.
"Overall
we will see about 20 people involved in the operation - including
divers and US Service personnel, as well as four to six experts from
the Oman Whale and Dolphin Research Group.
"The US
Navy is providing boats and we will possibly be using jet boats, so
that there are no propellers in the immediate area.
"Following
the story published in the GDN, the US Coastguard and Navy indicated
that they would like to help us and provide any facilities or equipment
they could muster.
"They were
the ones who contacted the Oman group and we are really thankful for
their quick action."
Mr Collins saw
the dolphin with Bahraini skipper Nabeel Hassan, from the BYC.
"Humpback
dolphins are endangered animals and therefore this rescue operation
must be done right," said Mr Collins.
"The general
public must also know that Bahrain waters are home not only to humpback
dolphins, but also to some of the rarest animals in the world - such
as the dugong and the finless porpoise."
The capture of
Tails will need to be done with the greatest of care.
"Before
the rescue operation I needed to see Tails to get an idea of how healthy
she is," continued Mr Collins.
"From what
I have seen, she is still a growing dolphin and the more she grows,
the more the rope is cutting through her flesh.
"The animal
risks losing its tail and there is no doubt that when that happens
it will die. So we have to do something.
"I have
taken some video and I will watch that back in Oman.
"The good
news for now is that Tails seems to be swimming fine despite the noose."
Mr Collins does
not recommend tranquillising the dolphin, fearing it might end up
drowning.
"Dolphins
need air to breathe, but they need to think before they take a breath
and if we tranquillise the dolphin then there is a possibility it
will drown, especially if it decides to dive down and we won't be
able to catch it.
"They're
not like other mammals which continue to breathe on their own after
being tranquillised. However, if need be, we may sedate Tails. What
we need is a more sophisticated way to catch her using a special net,
which won't harm the animal."
The rescue group
is also looking for sponsors to accommodate the Oman team during their
stay in Bahrain.
"The air,
land and water transportation are already set - what we are looking
for now is someone to accommodate the Oman team, preferably somewhere
close to the site," said Mr Maclean.
The visiting
experts should be in Bahrain for about a week and interested sponsors
can contact the BYC on 700677.
( Source : www.gulf-daily-news.com
)
