May 2003

News Items and Rescues

Surviving Pilot Whales Moved To Keys 'Swimming Hole'

1st May

Six stranded pilot whales, ranging in size from a six-foot infant to an 11-foot adult male, have been moved to a new rehabilitation site.

The group was taken to a semi-enclosed boat basin on the western end of Big Pine Key. The area will provide both the whales and rescuers protection from wind and waves and allow the mammals the opportunity to exercise. The smaller animals were loaded on an enclosed truck, while larger ones were placed on inflatable boats that were taken on trailers to the new site locally known as the Swimming Hole. Monroe County Sheriff Office deputies provided a police escort for the three-mile trip.

The whales are among 28 that stranded themselves in shallow waters near Big Pine Key. Seven died, six were euthanized and nine are unaccounted for, according to Laura Engleby of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service.

Rick Trout, animal care director of the Keys-based Marine Mammal Conservancy, said the surviving whales are still in guarded condition, but that they are eating well. Blood test results from an older male whale were concerning, but the other animals are in reasonable good shape considering what they have been through.

( Source : www.click10.com )

Necropsy performed on pilot whale that stranded in Keys
2nd May

Marine mammal experts performed a necropsy Friday on the largest of the pilot whales being nursed back to health after an April 18 stranding off the lower Florida Keys.

The 11-long, 1,200-pound marine mammal that died Thursday was among 28 that stranded themselves in shallow waters near Big Pine Key. Seven others died, six were euthanized, nine are unaccounted for and volunteers are continuing to nurse five in a semi-enclosed boat basin on the west end of Big Pine Key.

Preliminary results show the whale died from complications of sunburn and muscle damage, most likely as a result of the stranding, said Jenny Litz, the assistant southeast stranding coordinator for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.

"There were abysses in the lungs, most likely caused by bacteriological pneumonia," Litz said.

Meanwhile volunteers continue their 24-hour vigil with the remaining live whales. Four of the five mammals, according to Rick Trout, animal care director of the Keys-based Marine Mammal Conservancy, are showing signs of progress.

"The healthy ones are getting healthier," he said. "We are definitely moving into another phase of rehabilitation with those four."

( Source : www.miami.com )

Stranded dolphin improves, but pilot whale dies - Florida Keys
3rd May

A spotted dolphin that beached itself off Marathon, Monday, began swimming on its own Friday, a sign that the marine mammal may be improving, according to volunteers trying to nurse it back to health.

( Photo : Volunteers Bob Christian and Milan Manasijevic, both of Miami, help care for the small spotted dolphin that beached itself on Sunrise Island off Marathon on Monday. The dolphin is being treated at Keys Marine Lab in Layton on Long Key )

Meanwhile, a pilot whale that was among more than two dozen whales that stranded themselves near the Content Keys two weeks ago, has died.

The dolphin, dubbed Sunny, is being treated for dehydration and severe sunburn at Keys Marine Lab in Layton, said Sarah Gomez with the Miami-based Marine Animal Rescue Society. Rescuers are treating the mammal with antibiotics and are awaiting the results of blood tests.

Rescuers were unsure the dolphin's exact age, but called him a "young male." They also were unsure why the spotted dolphin, which usually moves in large pods, beached itself.

Maria Brandvold and her husband Jan Childers spotted the 5-feet, 4-inch, 125-pound dolphin on a sandbar near Sunrise Island off Marathon. Brandvold said she was at home and looking out her back window admiring the birds when she spotted something struggling in the ocean.

"I saw something black flopping on the beach and called to Jan when I realized what it was," said she said. "We just had to give him a name, so we named him Sunny."

The rescue became a neighborhood effort until Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers and rescuers arrived.

The dolphin is being tube fed formula and is receiving 24-hour medical care.

In another recent stranding situation, the lone surviving male pilot whale being cared for in a lagoon on the south end of Big Pine Key died Thursday evening. The whale, one of seven rescued after a pod of 28 whales beached themselves in Content Passage two weeks ago, had been receiving antibiotics and around-the-clock medical treatment. The male is the second of the rescued whales to die since being moved to protected waters. And undermined number of the original pod died in backcountry waters in the days following the stranding.

Five whales, all females, remain under the care of volunteers and appear to be responding well to medical treatments.

Rescuers, comprised primarily of volunteers from various non-profit marine mammal-stranding agencies, are seeking donations and volunteers to aid in the efforts.

( Source : www.keysnews.com )

Cape whale `hospital' gets a boost - Massachusetts
4th May

The massive stranding of about 60 pilot whales on the Cape last summer was a wrenching experience for would-be rescuers. They watched the whales repeatedly beach themselves and eventually die, despite efforts to guide them back to sea.

But the toll of future strandings may be less severe if plans for a hospital for beached marine animals are finally realized in Buzzards Bay. Those plans have been boosted with agreement on a long-awaited lease that might also create some much needed economic activity for the area.

The National Marine Life Center would have pools where animals ranging from whales to sea turtles could recover from strandings.

The center's executive director, Sallie Riggs, has no trouble envisioning the completed project as she stands on the empty, weed-filled lot behind the site where the animal hospital will be.
"I see it," she said. "I see it in my sleep. I see it in the daytime. I know what this is going to be."

The $7 million project has struggled for traction since it was conceived by a group of grassroots advocates in 1995. Bourne was suggested as the center's home the next year, and an unused piece of property downtown was designated, Riggs said.

Fund-raising stalled in 1999, though, when Bourne ( Mass. ) voters changed their form of government just as the center was set to sign a new lease, Riggs said. The center receded on the town's list of priorities and the perception grew that the project was floundering, she said.

But in late March, town officials agreed to a 50-year lease on the land at a $1 a year, provided construction begins by Aug. 31, 2007.
About $2.5 million has been raised so far and another $1.9 million is needed before the first phase of construction can begin.

( Source : www.metrowestdailynews.com )

[ To see an archive report of the mentioned 2002 stranding go to : this link . Tony ]

"Georges Lives !"

5th May

Hi all,

Georges ( Randy ) lives !

According to Martin Gavet ( BDMLR Guernsey Co-ordinator ) at his website at the following link ( http://www.ci-dolphins.org.uk/ ) ... Georges is currently frolicking in his usual way off the French coast.

Take a look at the link for more info and further pics.

Cheers,

Tony.
Exmouth BDMLR Rescue/Training Co-ordinator
BDMLR OnLine News/Info Service.

Mass Stranding Exercise - Thanks

I'd like this opportunity to thank Geoff Graham for organising such a great day on Saturday (10th May) and all those who assisted him on the Mass Stranding exercise at Isle of Sheppy. It was also really good to catch up with Mark ( Stevens ), Alan ( Knight ) and Geoff ( Hammock ) too as I haven't seen them in an age.

Best wishes

Naomi Routledge
Marine Mammal Medic

Drysuit Offer

To All Medics,

I have just sorted out a deal with Robin Hood Watersports who make made to measure drysuits.

We are now able to offer these drysuits at cost!!!!

This means that you are now able to get a package deal of:

Drysuit
Valves and Hoses,
Bag,
Hood,
Woolly Bear

all for a price ranging from £249.99+VAT to £329.00+VAT

Drysuits are also available alone with various upgrades. We pretty much have access to the full range of Roho Drysuits so if anyone would like further information please feel free to contact me.

If possible please contact through email - this will make it much easier for me to keep track of all enquiries.

Kieran Copeland ,
Anglian Co-ordinator,
British Divers Marine Life Rescue

Surviving whales continue to improve
15th May

Five pilot whales that stranded themselves in Content Passage ( Florida Keys ) last month are showing signs of improvement.

However, it could be more than a month before they are released back into the open ocean.

Some of the whales are still being tube fed and all are receiving antibiotics and vitamins. The whales have to be off medication for at least two weeks before being released, according to National Marine Fisheries guidelines.

"Everyone is showing progress in the right direction," said Dr. Doug Mader, a Marathon veterinarian. "They are getting stronger every day."

Rescuers are debating whether they can release the youngest whale, a calf, with the rest of the pod. She is being tube-fed formula and rescuers are not sure if she could forage for food in the wild. The calf maybe placed at a facility until it can be released.

"The baby may not do as well as the others. Keeping it would have to be a consideration," said Dr. Mike Walsh, a veterinarian with Sea World, who visited the whales on Sunday. "With an animal of that size you would probably want it with an adult that can nurse."

Rescuers would like to release all the whales together. The whales generally swim in large pods and do not do well alone.

However, one of the adult female whales, dubbed only as No. 3, has traces of the morbillivirus in her blood. Morbillivirus can be fatal in marine mammals.

"Her levels are low. She was probably exposed to it, but it doesn't mean she has it," Mader said.

The whale continues to show signs of improvement, Mader said. The whale had also been showing signs of scoliosis. However, rescuers have been performing physical and massage therapy on the her fluke and lower body.

"She is much more feisty than she was a week or two weeks ago," Mader said.

Despite feeling better, the whale has not had much interaction with the four other younger members of the pod.

The five whales, which range in weight from 320 pounds to 792 pounds, were among 28 whales that stranded themselves in Content Passage last month. Seven whales were taken to Big Pine Key for rehabilitation, and two of those whales have died.

Nearly a dozen other whales died or were euthanized during the first couple days of the rescue.

Rescuers initially planned to fence off an area of the pass on the first night to corral the whales that weren't taken to Big Pine Key. However some of the whales were allowed to swim away or were pushed off into the channel by rescuers.

Chances of survival are slim for those whales, because necropsies performed on some whales showed they had no food in their stomachs and had severe muscle damage.

Earlier this week, several people reported seeing whale carcasses floating in the area.

"Decisions had to be made on-sight and quickly," National Marine Fisheries stranding coordinator Laura Engleby said. "You do the best you can with the resources available."

National Marine Fisheries officials are investigating the mutilation of two whale carcasses. The jaws and teeth of two whales were ripped out. The mutilation of dead whales violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Engleby said. A person cannot have any whale body parts without a permit, she said.

( Source : www.keysnews.com )

Stranded whale guided back to its home - Brunei
13th April

Animal lovers and environmentalists will be relieved to hear that all has ended well for the whale that was stranded for 17 hours in the shallow waters off Pulau Pelumpong since Sunday morning when four concerned members of the public assisted it in returning to the deep waters of Brunei Bay and then back to the sea yesterday.

The story began when workers from a fish farm near Pulau Pelumpong discovered something out of the ordinary when they inspected their catch for the day in one of their fishing structures traditionally called 'lintau'. A large whale was stuck in the shallow waters of the island, trapped by the net. It was about 6 am Sunday morning and they quickly informed their employer.

Mr Morris, a well-known diver with vast knowledge about sea creatures, told the Bulletin yesterday how he, with help from others, coaxed the large whale back to safety. At the time he was island hopping when a friend informed him about the stranded whale close to a fish farm nearby. As he is a profound nature lover, he decided to take a look.

It took him and his wife a while to locate the area where he saw two fishermen splashing their boat paddles in the water near a large 'object' as if trying to move it away. It was then that they saw the whale. Slowly and carefully he manoeuvred his 20-foot boat nearer to the whale. "The whale was very long," he said and added it was longer than his boat. Judging from the size of the whale, he estimated that it could weigh up to 10 tonnes.

"It's not a Minke whale actually," he clarified. The type of species that was found stranded yesterday is actually a Bryde's Whale. This species is classified as "Balaenoptera edeni". The distinctive feature of this whale is the 3 head ridges extending from the blowholes to the end of the rostrum.

Mr Morris jumped into the water and started stroking the large mammal gently to calm it down. Two other fishermen then joined in to pacify the agitated animal. Mr Morris was shocked to find that someone had tied a rope onto the whale's tail.

This rope, he said, was the cause of the whale's severed tail, which had sent the poor aquatic creature into a state of distress and great pain. He slowly cut off the rope and with the help of his wife and the two fishermen he carefully pushed the whale so that it faced the deep waters. Past experience had taught Mr Morris the correct way to help stranded whales.

As the belly of the whale was still touching the shallow part of the island they had to wait for the tide to come in. It was then that the whale managed to swim forward into the deeper waters.

It was heartbreaking to see the whale struggling to swim straight as a result of its tail being severed. "The mammal was swimming in circles," Mr Morris said.

Luckily, the whale recovered its composure and orientation and managed to go under the fish farms located nearby and swam away. The fish farms suffered some damage as the whale resurfaced under these farms. Some fish were let loose from the cages.

Mr Morris and the two fishermen had to escort the whale and guide it back into the deep. They turned back after the whale dived into the deep sea and disappeared from sight.

Mr Morris thanked the two fishermen who helped him for over two hours to free the whale. It was certainly well worth the effort in bringing this beautiful creature back to where it belongs.

This incident, he said, also shows that the Brunei waters are clean. No sea animal would come to a dirty and polluted area to feed, he said.

The Bryde's Whale is also protected by the 1986 Moratorium on Whaling. Besides being called a Bryde's Whale, it is also commonly known as Tropical Whale. It can be found in the tropical or subtropical waters where the temperature is more than 20 degrees Celsius. A fully-grown adult Bryde's Whale can weigh up to 20 tonnes.

( Source : www.brunei-online.com )

Sad End To A Gentle Giant - Brunei ( update )

The gentle giant of the ocean could not make it in the deep where it belonged, after all.

Instead the injured whale, which was escorted to the South China Sea last week, had reportedly beached itself again on a lonely island not far from Brunei's mainland.

A group of Bruneian windsurfers spotted the decomposing body of a whale yesterday on the small island popularly known as the 'Monkey Island' situated a few minutes by boat off the coast of Muara.

One of them, a journalist, told the Weekend that he was not sure whether it was the same whale that came ashore in Serasa last week.

Since the reports tallied with the measurements and the nature of the wounds received by the other marooned whale, the connection is pretty obvious that it may be the same whale, he said.

On Sunday, this 24-feet Bryde's whale had become stranded in the shallow waters near a fishing structure known as 'lintau' off Pelumpong Island at Muara.

After 17 hours, a concerned foreign diver along with several local fishermen escorted the mammal into the deep waters, hoping that it would be able to survive.

During its ordeal in the shallow waters, the whale sustained serious injuries, among them a broken tail fin incurred when it was trying to free itself from the fishing structure where it had got itself entrapped, according to the fishermen.

The chances of its survival were also in doubt at the time, they added.

Meanwhile an officer from the Natural History Museum said they had not received any information of a whale being washed ashore.

( Source : www.brudirect.com )

Stranded Minke Whale, Long Rock, Penzance

Virus Warning

28th May

Many members of BDMLR are receiving an E-Mail that has supposedly come from support@microsoft.com with an attached file at this point in time our anti virus system has managed to catch all of them. Please let all our members know about this. As the attached file contains either W32/Klez-H or W32/ElKern-C

Regards.

Nick Kail
( Medic and BDMLR computer 'guru' )

3 Common dolphins rescued from South beach, Studland.
27th May 2003

January 03	February 03	March 03	April 03	May 03	June 03
July 03	Aug 03	Sept 03	Oct 03	Nov 03	Dec 03

		May 2003 News
	Surviving Pilot Whales Moved To Keys 'Swimming Hole' 1st May Six stranded pilot whales, ranging in size from a six-foot infant to an 11-foot adult male, have been moved to a new rehabilitation site. The group was taken to a semi-enclosed boat basin on the western end of Big Pine Key. The area will provide both the whales and rescuers protection from wind and waves and allow the mammals the opportunity to exercise. The smaller animals were loaded on an enclosed truck, while larger ones were placed on inflatable boats that were taken on trailers to the new site locally known as the Swimming Hole. Monroe County Sheriff Office deputies provided a police escort for the three-mile trip. The whales are among 28 that stranded themselves in shallow waters near Big Pine Key. Seven died, six were euthanized and nine are unaccounted for, according to Laura Engleby of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service. Rick Trout, animal care director of the Keys-based Marine Mammal Conservancy, said the surviving whales are still in guarded condition, but that they are eating well. Blood test results from an older male whale were concerning, but the other animals are in reasonable good shape considering what they have been through. ( Source : www.click10.com ) Necropsy performed on pilot whale that stranded in Keys 2nd May Marine mammal experts performed a necropsy Friday on the largest of the pilot whales being nursed back to health after an April 18 stranding off the lower Florida Keys. The 11-long, 1,200-pound marine mammal that died Thursday was among 28 that stranded themselves in shallow waters near Big Pine Key. Seven others died, six were euthanized, nine are unaccounted for and volunteers are continuing to nurse five in a semi-enclosed boat basin on the west end of Big Pine Key. Preliminary results show the whale died from complications of sunburn and muscle damage, most likely as a result of the stranding, said Jenny Litz, the assistant southeast stranding coordinator for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. "There were abysses in the lungs, most likely caused by bacteriological pneumonia," Litz said. Meanwhile volunteers continue their 24-hour vigil with the remaining live whales. Four of the five mammals, according to Rick Trout, animal care director of the Keys-based Marine Mammal Conservancy, are showing signs of progress. "The healthy ones are getting healthier," he said. "We are definitely moving into another phase of rehabilitation with those four." ( Source : www.miami.com ) Stranded dolphin improves, but pilot whale dies - Florida Keys 3rd May A spotted dolphin that beached itself off Marathon, Monday, began swimming on its own Friday, a sign that the marine mammal may be improving, according to volunteers trying to nurse it back to health. ( Photo : Volunteers Bob Christian and Milan Manasijevic, both of Miami, help care for the small spotted dolphin that beached itself on Sunrise Island off Marathon on Monday. The dolphin is being treated at Keys Marine Lab in Layton on Long Key ) Meanwhile, a pilot whale that was among more than two dozen whales that stranded themselves near the Content Keys two weeks ago, has died. The dolphin, dubbed Sunny, is being treated for dehydration and severe sunburn at Keys Marine Lab in Layton, said Sarah Gomez with the Miami-based Marine Animal Rescue Society. Rescuers are treating the mammal with antibiotics and are awaiting the results of blood tests. Rescuers were unsure the dolphin's exact age, but called him a "young male." They also were unsure why the spotted dolphin, which usually moves in large pods, beached itself. Maria Brandvold and her husband Jan Childers spotted the 5-feet, 4-inch, 125-pound dolphin on a sandbar near Sunrise Island off Marathon. Brandvold said she was at home and looking out her back window admiring the birds when she spotted something struggling in the ocean. "I saw something black flopping on the beach and called to Jan when I realized what it was," said she said. "We just had to give him a name, so we named him Sunny." The rescue became a neighborhood effort until Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers and rescuers arrived. The dolphin is being tube fed formula and is receiving 24-hour medical care. In another recent stranding situation, the lone surviving male pilot whale being cared for in a lagoon on the south end of Big Pine Key died Thursday evening. The whale, one of seven rescued after a pod of 28 whales beached themselves in Content Passage two weeks ago, had been receiving antibiotics and around-the-clock medical treatment. The male is the second of the rescued whales to die since being moved to protected waters. And undermined number of the original pod died in backcountry waters in the days following the stranding. Five whales, all females, remain under the care of volunteers and appear to be responding well to medical treatments. Rescuers, comprised primarily of volunteers from various non-profit marine mammal-stranding agencies, are seeking donations and volunteers to aid in the efforts. ( Source : www.keysnews.com )
	Cape whale `hospital' gets a boost - Massachusetts 4th May The massive stranding of about 60 pilot whales on the Cape last summer was a wrenching experience for would-be rescuers. They watched the whales repeatedly beach themselves and eventually die, despite efforts to guide them back to sea. But the toll of future strandings may be less severe if plans for a hospital for beached marine animals are finally realized in Buzzards Bay. Those plans have been boosted with agreement on a long-awaited lease that might also create some much needed economic activity for the area. The National Marine Life Center would have pools where animals ranging from whales to sea turtles could recover from strandings. The center's executive director, Sallie Riggs, has no trouble envisioning the completed project as she stands on the empty, weed-filled lot behind the site where the animal hospital will be. "I see it," she said. "I see it in my sleep. I see it in the daytime. I know what this is going to be." The $7 million project has struggled for traction since it was conceived by a group of grassroots advocates in 1995. Bourne was suggested as the center's home the next year, and an unused piece of property downtown was designated, Riggs said. Fund-raising stalled in 1999, though, when Bourne ( Mass. ) voters changed their form of government just as the center was set to sign a new lease, Riggs said. The center receded on the town's list of priorities and the perception grew that the project was floundering, she said. But in late March, town officials agreed to a 50-year lease on the land at a $1 a year, provided construction begins by Aug. 31, 2007. About $2.5 million has been raised so far and another $1.9 million is needed before the first phase of construction can begin. ( Source : www.metrowestdailynews.com ) [ To see an archive report of the mentioned 2002 stranding go to : this link . Tony ] "Georges Lives !" 5th May Hi all, Georges ( Randy ) lives ! According to Martin Gavet ( BDMLR Guernsey Co-ordinator ) at his website at the following link ( http://www.ci-dolphins.org.uk/ ) ... Georges is currently frolicking in his usual way off the French coast. Take a look at the link for more info and further pics. Cheers, Tony. Exmouth BDMLR Rescue/Training Co-ordinator BDMLR OnLine News/Info Service.
	Hi all, Please find a number of items below ...... thanks to those who have contributed. You will also find below the latest info I can find concerning the ongoing 'Florida Keys' Pilot whale rehab. As of today I have taken on the role of maintaining and updating the BDMLR website ( www.bdmlr.org.uk ). Please bear with me as I am on a steep learning curve and there are quite a few updates that need to be done. Thanks to Paul Motion who had been running the site previously up to about two months ago. If you have not already browsed the site ... take a look. If you 'drop in' over the next few weeks you should see the odd change and update here and there. There is also the BDMLR message board where you can 'chat' on any relevant topic with other interested 'web surfers'. If you are really up-to-date with your technology, there is even a BDMLR WAP page. From your WAP phone you can view the early stages of a page at www.bdmlr.org.uk/wap ..... more development is needed on this page. Cheers, Tony. Exmouth BDMLR Rescue/Training Co-ordinator BDMLR OnLine MASS STRANDING EXERCISE REMINDER Dear Medics, Just a wee reminder that the 10th of May is nearly here. Sun, Sea and Sand are just a few of the pleasantries awaiting us on the Isle Of Sheppey. As with all stranding events whether real or an exercise our own health and safety is of paramount importance, so please be sure to bring plenty to eat and drink. If like myself your going a bit thin on top then maybe a hat and sun cream might also be wise. Start time will be around 9-30ish AM and the refloat about 3 PM. So we will be out in the elements for quite some time. Anybody feeling unwell will be given mouth to mouth from one of the BDMLR directors or a 9 inch syringe, full of adrenalin from our attending Vet James Barnett. I look forward to seeing you all on the 10th for what will hopefully be a fun, rewarding and invaluable experience. Best wishes Geoff. Graham Essex Seal Pup 6th May Here are some photos of a seal pup that was picked up off of Walton on the Naze in Essex on Sunday 4th May. She was spotted and looked after by two Marine Mammal Medics, Leon Woodrow and Andy Rutson Edwards, they then transported her to Hunstanton Sealife Centre. As you can see she was premature and only weighs 7kg. Andy spoke to the Sealife Centre today and they've said that she's doing well and has been named Maggie! All the Best Faye Archell BDMLR Essex Coordinator
	Hedgehogs on the Telly ! 10th May Hi everyone! British Divers Marine Life Rescue's sister charity, International Animal Rescue, is involved with rescuing hedgehogs from North Uist, to prevent them being culled by Scottish Natural Heritage Nick Duthie was asked by the BBC's CountryFile programme to do a video diary about what it was like to be a volunteer with the Uist Hedgehog Rescue coalition. It is being aired on BBC 1 on Sunday 11th May at 11.00am So please do tune in but be aware, it may well be truly cringeworthy!!!! Kind regards Nick Duthie Aberdeenshire Strandings Co-ordinator British Divers Marine Life Rescue and Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit Seal Carcass - Unusual Findings Montrose medics Rebecca Chambers, Elaine Roft and Sandy Inglis attended a seal carcass washed up on Johnshaven beach in Scotland on the 4th May. The medics were somewhat surprised with their findings. The seal was clearly an adult grey female, black in colour, and the vaginal opening was dilated to a good 10 inches (if not more) The medics after being in touch with Bob Reid from SAC went back on the 5th May to take pictures of the dilation for passing on to SAC and James Barnett. It appears that the seal had either pupped late or had aborted early. This is the first time that the medics had encountered dilation to this extent. Unfortunately on day 2 when Elaine and Rebecca went back to take shots, the opening had contracted back to 3 1/2 inches. James and Bob will report back to the medics in due course once they have viewed the pictures for themselves. The carcass was not fresh enough - slight decomposition, so Environmental health were called in to uplift it. Even yet.....we learn something new every day! Elaine Roft BDMLR - Area Co-ordinator Montrose
	Harbour Porpoise stranding, Colchester, Essex. UK. Saturday, 10th May BDMLR Essex coordinator, Faye Archell received a call concerning a harbour porpoise stranded in a river at Hythe, Colchester at approximately 11.30 am. At the time, she was attending the mass stranding exercise on the Isle of Sheppey, north Kent. Faye, Lucie White, Duane Kirk and James Barnett made the two hour journey to Colchester while Leon Woodrow and Andy Rutson Edwards made their way from north Essex. Leon and his team arrived with the animal at 12 noon. The Colchester fire brigade (Bluewatch) and RSPCA inspector Jim Farr were in attendance, and the former rigged up a walkway over the mud. The animal was moved off the mud into a dinghy and cooling and wetting with water from the creek commenced. ( Back to camera - James Barnett, BDMLR Veterinary Director. ) When the team from Kent arrived at approx. 1.30 pm, James started an assessment of the animal, while the others assisted with support. The animal was a female harbour porpoise between 1.5 and 1.6 metres in length. She was in moderate to good body condition and had a rather distended ventral abdomen and thus the possibility that she was in the later stages of pregnancy could not be ruled out (harbour porpoises calving generally in June/July). A number of minor superficial cuts and abrasions were found on her ventral abdomen and tail stock, probably arising from contact with some of the numerous sharp objects present in the mud. An old, narrow, diamond shaped scar was present on the left side of her chest. However, her breathing rate was markedly elevated (10-12 breaths/minute) and her blowhole, flipper withdrawal and palpebral reflexes were poor. Her lungs sounded rather harsh on auscultation, but as usual, interpretation was hampered by the explosive nature of the breathing. Periodically she arched her tail and also she was hot to the touch. A rectal temperature of only 35.8oC was obtained with a digital thermometer and this was unlikely to be representative. A thermistor probe was not available. No discharges were noticed from the blowhole or any other orifice, her mucous membrane colour was satisfactory, her skin generally was in good condition and her eyes were partially open. In summary, she was obviously a very stressed animal, and underlying lung pathology could not be ruled out. However, due to the position in which she was stranded, a muddy, polluted creek where supporting in water was impossible, the decision was taken to move her to a beach with open water to reassess her. James stomach tubed her with approximately 350 mls of Zoolyte rehydration solution and a hose was connected up to a fire hydrant by the fire brigade, so cooling could commence with clean, cool water. An air mattress was placed underneath her in the dinghy, to give her extra support. After a few minutes to allow her to stabilise after tubing, a sling was positioned underneath her and a crane used to lift her the 20 feet to the quayside and into the back of an open landrover. Here she was again positioned on the air mattress and Duane, Faye and Lucie supported her and monitored her en route to West Mersea, leaving at approx. 3.30 pm. Her breathing rate during the journey remained between 9 and 10 breaths per minute. Arriving at West Mersea at 4 pm, she was moved in a boat along the shore to a quiet location and support in the water commenced at 4.30 pm. ( From left : Lucie White [ BDMLR National Co-ordinator ], Faye Archell BDMLR, Duane Kirk BDMLR ) Initially, her response was quite favourable, as she made strong, powerful movements of her tail fluke in the water. Her breathing rate, however, remained high at between 9 and 11 breaths per minute, although it did dip on one occasion to 6 breaths per minute. Blood samples were taken by James half an hour after arrival and an antibiotic, enrofloxacin was administered (long acting antibiotics were intended to be used, but the bottle smashed in the boat). A triangular depression was now noted under her head, where the skin was rather wrinkled and dry, and occasionally discoloured brown. One possible explanation is that she had come in contact with a caustic material as she lay in the mud in Colchester. Attempts were made periodically to see how well the animal supported herself in the water: each time she was able to support herself without listing, but appeared disorientated, often turning towards shore and her swimming movements were not coordinated. The breathing rate remained high and her eyes were now closed and she developed a slight list to one side. Her reflexes remained rather sluggish and her jaw tone was rather slack. Her mucous membrane colour remained satisfactory. At 7pm, James administered an anti-inflammatory (carprofen) due to increasing concerns over possible muscle damage, despite stranding on soft mud, and to see if this made any noticeable difference to her behaviour. The animal did appear possibly to make more coordinated movements after this point, but it is impossible to say if this was directly an effect of the drug. The breathing rate, however, remained high at 10-13 breaths/minute and now the animal was exhibiting mild muscle tremors over the chest. At 7.15 pm, due to concerns over the time of day, with little more than an hour’s good light left, the persistently high breathing rate and the perceptible decline in the animal’s condition, a final assessment was made of the animal, with a view to euthanasia if this was not positive. Again, hands were withdrawn and she was observed unsupported: her swimming did appear a little stronger, although she again veered round to point towards the beach. It was at this point that the animal caught everyone unawares and put in a strong spurt of swimming, getting way from her handlers and it was impossible to retrieve her. A watch was mounted for the next hour and a half and she was observed tacking up and down parallel to the shore, over a hundred metres out, diving often for over a minute at a time. She was lost from sight in the failing light and the watch had to be called off. Ian Black of English Nature, who had accompanied us through the event, agreed to check the beach that night and in the morning. On Sunday, despite extensive searches of the sandbanks and shore by walkers and boats, she was not found again. Results of blood samples revealed no evidence of muscle damage, but she was a little anaemic. There was no evidence of infection, but the normal white blood cell counts do not necessarily rule out a bacterial lung infection, as work in the States has illustrated that an effective immune response to chronic lung infections often is not mounted. BDMLR is grateful particularly for the hard work put in by the fire brigade and the support received from the crane driver, English Nature and the RSPCA. However, there was little confidence amongst those involved that this animal was a suitable candidate for release at the stage she was ‘released’ and it was unfortunate that she had got away from her handlers at the time she did. A great deal was learned from the episode, however. In particular, this stranding highlighted the need to be able to assess and treat stranded cetaceans in a controlled environment over a much longer period of time than many refloatations allow. The need to have thermistor probes readily available even for animals as small as an adult harbour porpoise also was emphasised and this is being addressed. Although this animal had a characteristic scar on its chest wall, the event also highlighted the need to be able to tag an animal even for short term monitoring. Biodegradable ribbon has been obtained, but attempts to assess its suitability by trialling it on captive pinnipeds have not yet commenced. This will be chased up. James Barnett BDMLR Veterinary Director
	Mass Stranding Exercise - Thanks I'd like this opportunity to thank Geoff Graham for organising such a great day on Saturday (10th May) and all those who assisted him on the Mass Stranding exercise at Isle of Sheppy. It was also really good to catch up with Mark ( Stevens ), Alan ( Knight ) and Geoff ( Hammock ) too as I haven't seen them in an age. Best wishes Naomi Routledge Marine Mammal Medic Drysuit Offer To All Medics, I have just sorted out a deal with Robin Hood Watersports who make made to measure drysuits. We are now able to offer these drysuits at cost!!!! This means that you are now able to get a package deal of: Drysuit Valves and Hoses, Bag, Hood, Woolly Bear all for a price ranging from £249.99+VAT to £329.00+VAT Drysuits are also available alone with various upgrades. We pretty much have access to the full range of Roho Drysuits so if anyone would like further information please feel free to contact me. If possible please contact through email - this will make it much easier for me to keep track of all enquiries. Kieran Copeland , Anglian Co-ordinator, British Divers Marine Life Rescue
	Surviving whales continue to improve 15th May Five pilot whales that stranded themselves in Content Passage ( Florida Keys ) last month are showing signs of improvement. However, it could be more than a month before they are released back into the open ocean. Some of the whales are still being tube fed and all are receiving antibiotics and vitamins. The whales have to be off medication for at least two weeks before being released, according to National Marine Fisheries guidelines. "Everyone is showing progress in the right direction," said Dr. Doug Mader, a Marathon veterinarian. "They are getting stronger every day." Rescuers are debating whether they can release the youngest whale, a calf, with the rest of the pod. She is being tube-fed formula and rescuers are not sure if she could forage for food in the wild. The calf maybe placed at a facility until it can be released. "The baby may not do as well as the others. Keeping it would have to be a consideration," said Dr. Mike Walsh, a veterinarian with Sea World, who visited the whales on Sunday. "With an animal of that size you would probably want it with an adult that can nurse." Rescuers would like to release all the whales together. The whales generally swim in large pods and do not do well alone. However, one of the adult female whales, dubbed only as No. 3, has traces of the morbillivirus in her blood. Morbillivirus can be fatal in marine mammals. "Her levels are low. She was probably exposed to it, but it doesn't mean she has it," Mader said. The whale continues to show signs of improvement, Mader said. The whale had also been showing signs of scoliosis. However, rescuers have been performing physical and massage therapy on the her fluke and lower body. "She is much more feisty than she was a week or two weeks ago," Mader said. Despite feeling better, the whale has not had much interaction with the four other younger members of the pod. The five whales, which range in weight from 320 pounds to 792 pounds, were among 28 whales that stranded themselves in Content Passage last month. Seven whales were taken to Big Pine Key for rehabilitation, and two of those whales have died. Nearly a dozen other whales died or were euthanized during the first couple days of the rescue. Rescuers initially planned to fence off an area of the pass on the first night to corral the whales that weren't taken to Big Pine Key. However some of the whales were allowed to swim away or were pushed off into the channel by rescuers. Chances of survival are slim for those whales, because necropsies performed on some whales showed they had no food in their stomachs and had severe muscle damage. Earlier this week, several people reported seeing whale carcasses floating in the area. "Decisions had to be made on-sight and quickly," National Marine Fisheries stranding coordinator Laura Engleby said. "You do the best you can with the resources available." National Marine Fisheries officials are investigating the mutilation of two whale carcasses. The jaws and teeth of two whales were ripped out. The mutilation of dead whales violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Engleby said. A person cannot have any whale body parts without a permit, she said. ( Source : www.keysnews.com ) Stranded whale guided back to its home - Brunei 13th April Animal lovers and environmentalists will be relieved to hear that all has ended well for the whale that was stranded for 17 hours in the shallow waters off Pulau Pelumpong since Sunday morning when four concerned members of the public assisted it in returning to the deep waters of Brunei Bay and then back to the sea yesterday. The story began when workers from a fish farm near Pulau Pelumpong discovered something out of the ordinary when they inspected their catch for the day in one of their fishing structures traditionally called 'lintau'. A large whale was stuck in the shallow waters of the island, trapped by the net. It was about 6 am Sunday morning and they quickly informed their employer. Mr Morris, a well-known diver with vast knowledge about sea creatures, told the Bulletin yesterday how he, with help from others, coaxed the large whale back to safety. At the time he was island hopping when a friend informed him about the stranded whale close to a fish farm nearby. As he is a profound nature lover, he decided to take a look. It took him and his wife a while to locate the area where he saw two fishermen splashing their boat paddles in the water near a large 'object' as if trying to move it away. It was then that they saw the whale. Slowly and carefully he manoeuvred his 20-foot boat nearer to the whale. "The whale was very long," he said and added it was longer than his boat. Judging from the size of the whale, he estimated that it could weigh up to 10 tonnes. "It's not a Minke whale actually," he clarified. The type of species that was found stranded yesterday is actually a Bryde's Whale. This species is classified as "Balaenoptera edeni". The distinctive feature of this whale is the 3 head ridges extending from the blowholes to the end of the rostrum. Mr Morris jumped into the water and started stroking the large mammal gently to calm it down. Two other fishermen then joined in to pacify the agitated animal. Mr Morris was shocked to find that someone had tied a rope onto the whale's tail. This rope, he said, was the cause of the whale's severed tail, which had sent the poor aquatic creature into a state of distress and great pain. He slowly cut off the rope and with the help of his wife and the two fishermen he carefully pushed the whale so that it faced the deep waters. Past experience had taught Mr Morris the correct way to help stranded whales. As the belly of the whale was still touching the shallow part of the island they had to wait for the tide to come in. It was then that the whale managed to swim forward into the deeper waters. It was heartbreaking to see the whale struggling to swim straight as a result of its tail being severed. "The mammal was swimming in circles," Mr Morris said. Luckily, the whale recovered its composure and orientation and managed to go under the fish farms located nearby and swam away. The fish farms suffered some damage as the whale resurfaced under these farms. Some fish were let loose from the cages. Mr Morris and the two fishermen had to escort the whale and guide it back into the deep. They turned back after the whale dived into the deep sea and disappeared from sight. Mr Morris thanked the two fishermen who helped him for over two hours to free the whale. It was certainly well worth the effort in bringing this beautiful creature back to where it belongs. This incident, he said, also shows that the Brunei waters are clean. No sea animal would come to a dirty and polluted area to feed, he said. The Bryde's Whale is also protected by the 1986 Moratorium on Whaling. Besides being called a Bryde's Whale, it is also commonly known as Tropical Whale. It can be found in the tropical or subtropical waters where the temperature is more than 20 degrees Celsius. A fully-grown adult Bryde's Whale can weigh up to 20 tonnes. ( Source : www.brunei-online.com ) Sad End To A Gentle Giant - Brunei ( update ) The gentle giant of the ocean could not make it in the deep where it belonged, after all. Instead the injured whale, which was escorted to the South China Sea last week, had reportedly beached itself again on a lonely island not far from Brunei's mainland. A group of Bruneian windsurfers spotted the decomposing body of a whale yesterday on the small island popularly known as the 'Monkey Island' situated a few minutes by boat off the coast of Muara. One of them, a journalist, told the Weekend that he was not sure whether it was the same whale that came ashore in Serasa last week. Since the reports tallied with the measurements and the nature of the wounds received by the other marooned whale, the connection is pretty obvious that it may be the same whale, he said. On Sunday, this 24-feet Bryde's whale had become stranded in the shallow waters near a fishing structure known as 'lintau' off Pelumpong Island at Muara. After 17 hours, a concerned foreign diver along with several local fishermen escorted the mammal into the deep waters, hoping that it would be able to survive. During its ordeal in the shallow waters, the whale sustained serious injuries, among them a broken tail fin incurred when it was trying to free itself from the fishing structure where it had got itself entrapped, according to the fishermen. The chances of its survival were also in doubt at the time, they added. Meanwhile an officer from the Natural History Museum said they had not received any information of a whale being washed ashore. ( Source : www.brudirect.com )
	Blue Peter (You don't have to be a badge holder for this one) I am in talks with the BBC TV programme, Blue Peter at the moment and I am looking for a few medics - probably about 4 who can help out with some filming at Cromer on the North Norfolk Coast on the 9th June 2003. We plan to have the inflatable whale, dolphin and seal. We will basically be running a demonstration of what we do and how people can help. If anyone out there is interested in helping then please feel free to contact me. Kieran Copeland, Anglian Co-ordinator, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, anglia@bdmlr.org.uk Home: 01485 540694 Mob: 07980 558481 ( Any double sided sticky tape being used ??? Tony )
	23rd May Hi all, Here's the latest news ....... I've heard this evening that Dave Ball and Tim Bain, along with others from BDMLR & RSPCA in Cornwall, have attended a stranded Minke whale at Marazion, West Cornwall. The whale was examined and treated by a vet and refloated successfully on the second attempt..... bearing in mind that this was taking place on a rocky shoreline area. This stranding has only being taking place this evening and I cannot 100% say that these details are accurate. I hope to receive more info in the next few days. Here are a couple more items of interest. Cheers, Tony. Exmouth BDMLR Rescue/Training Co-ordinator BDMLR OnLine New Cornwall Rescue Ambulance The new ambulance for the Cornwall area will be making it's way from Exmouth, where it's been having it's logos etc. added, to Cornwall tomorrow ( Saturday 24th ). I took the opportunity of having both Devon and Cornwall trailers together to snap a few pics ..... here's the South West fleet ! Cheers, Tony. Exmouth BDMLR Rescue/Training Co-ordinator BDMLR OnLine Seal Handling - 2003 To All Marine Mammal Medics As some of you may remember back in the summer of 2001 we started offering “Hands On” experience with real seals for Marine Mammal Medics at the Sea Life Centre at Hunstanton in Norfolk, (there wasn’t any training last year due the outbreak of PDV). We intend to offer this training again this year, the aim being to build on your current knowledge and to ensure that you are able to respond quickly and effectively to marine standings. Many medics took advantage of this opportunity, including myself, and found it to be helpful, informative and I must admit great fun. We covered many topics including the differences between species, observation of sick animals and the types of illnesses and injuries they might have. We were also shown and then allowed to practice the best ways to catch and handle the animals, which as anyone who has ever tried to catch a seal will tell you, was invaluable! Other medics who have attended the day courses said… “We found it an excellent experience and very informative. We have certainly learnt a lot more about seals and having helped with them at close quarters including cleaning out and transporting, we also feel far more confident with them” “Could you please pass on our thanks again to all the staff who looked after us all day, which must have been a "trying" experience for them, they were very patient and a mine of information.” “Thank you again for organising the training and I would thoroughly recommend it to any medics wishing to get more involved.” Since the Common Seals have their pups throughout the summer, there will shortly be dates available for any medics wishing learn more and take a more active role within BDMLR to gain hands on experience. Anyone interested should contact me via email at lucie@bdmlr.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear All On Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of June BDMLR will be at the East Anglian Off Road and Outdoor Show at the C.I.T.B, Bircham Newton (near Kings Lynn) Norfolk. We will be displaying some of our equipment including the areas new Land Rover Wildlife Ambulance and 5m RIB and holding a raffle (1st Prize a trip to Release a Seal in the Wash!) to raise money to go towards funding a rescue trailer for the Norfolk Coast. Other features at the show include an off road course, classic cars, military and service vehicles, trade stands, children’s activities, hot food, beer tent and live bands in the evening. If anyone would like to come along to help us sale raffle tickets and rattle buckets they would be more than welcome! Please call Lucie on 07949 028190. For further details about the show contact the Beckland Land Rover Club, 07739 584311. Lucie White BDMLR National Co-ordinator
	25th May Hi all, Here's a BBC report concerning the Minke whale stranding which took place at Marazion on Friday evening ( 24th May ). I hope to receive a further report soon. Cheers, Tony. Exmouth BDMLR Rescue/Training Co-ordinator BDMLR OnLine Stranded whale freed 24th May A minke whale has been successfully rescued from rocks off Penzance. The five metre-long whale became stranded at Longrock late on Friday afternoon. It took 20 people more than four hours to free her and guide her to safety. Local diving and marine life experts, along with the RSPCA and National Seal Sanctuary, helped manoeuvre the whale onto a makeshift pontoon, before she was towed to safety. Rocks 'like coral' Martin Gaunt from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said it was a stressful and nail-biting experience. "It's desperate when you have been working so hard on something and you see, in the first instance, the minke going back on the rock. "Without wanting to be too graphic, you can see the abrasions. "The rocks out there are like coral. There's blood in the water and you wonder if this is going to work or not. "When it did go, people's spirits soared." ( source : www.news.bbc.co.uk )
	Stranded Minke Whale, Long Rock, Penzance 23rd May 2003 A call was received from the Police at about 17.30 hrs, as a “dolphin” had been reported stranded at Long Rock, Penzance. Staff from the Silver Dolphin Centre, who are trained British Divers Marine Life Rescue, marine mammal medics, arrived to find the animal on Longrock reef, over 200 metres from the beach, with the tide coming in. One medic went over first, while the rest of the team put together the necessary equipment to carry out a rescue. He found an eighteen foot long, Minke whale, trapped in a rock formation and totally out of the water, at what was now low water. The team made the creature as comfortable as possible using tarpaulins and seaweed. Visible wounds were checked and monitored, as was the breathing rate. The animal was kept wet, whilst awaiting the rise of the tide. There were abrasions to the tail and head and also a wound on the lower left hand side caused by the whale’s weight pressing on a rock. It was feared the rock had penetrated the whale’s side but as the whale moved it was clear this was not so and no serious damage had been done. After about an hour the divers from Undersea Adventures arrived with their R-I-B, also RSPCA officer Paul Kempson came out in the water. Film maker, Martin Gaunt was towed out by a local resident using his kayak. Following several messages via mobile telephones the R-I-B was sent to Penzance harbour to collect the vet Paul Riley. As the water level rose, they managed to slide the sheet under the whale and attach the first pontoon. Medics had to stand chest deep in the water until the whale started to float. Then the whale was moved backwards off the rocks so the second pontoon could be attached. During all of this the animal remained relatively calm, and continued to be monitored and soothed by medics. Medics then moved the whale in the pontoons out to the R-I-B to be towed into shallow water for the vet to carry out a proper examination. The pontoons were attached to the R-I-B and the boat handler asked for the medics to stay on the rocks, as the boat could not handle all the weight. The pontoons were tied to the side of the boat and they began heading for shallower water in order that an assessment could be done. Unfortunately, the whale was able to turn the boat and escape from the pontoons and in an attempt to make it back to the sea, the animal began heading back in the direction of the rocks, at one stage it was going at speed towards the last two medics left in the water, swerving only at the last moment and re-stranding further along the reef. The team made their way over the rocks and back into the rapidly rising waters. The pontoons had been returned from the RIB and these were dismantled in the water and re-positioned around the whale, which still appeared remarkably calm. Once again the whale in the pontoons, was towed out from the rocks, into the deeper water towards the R-I-B, by the swimming medics. This time a greater distance was left between the boat and the pontoons, with more medics remaining with the whale in the water whilst they moved towards the shore. When the pontoons reached shallower water a new team of volunteer medics replaced some of the medics who had now been in the water for four hours. The vet was able to give the whale medication to protect against infection. It was suggested beaching the whale but this would have caused more stress for the animal and as an inspection had already been carried out it was decided to tow the whale out past the reef and release it. Whilst the boat went back to the reef to collect the final seven medics who were left stranded on the rocks, the other medics supported the pontoons and whale in the water until the boat returned. When the boat returned the pontoons were reattached but the whale had other ideas. It escaped and made its way out to sea past the reef that it had stranded on over five hours earlier. The boat followed it until it lost sight in the darkness. It was now 10.30 pm, and everyone was tired but pleased that the night had ended in success. A watch was maintained visually & via The Isles of Scilly Steamship Co. & British International Helicopters for the remainder of the weekend around the West Cornwall coast. Dave Ball BDMLR / Silver Dolphin Centre
	Virus Warning 28th May Many members of BDMLR are receiving an E-Mail that has supposedly come from support@microsoft.com with an attached file at this point in time our anti virus system has managed to catch all of them. Please let all our members know about this. As the attached file contains either W32/Klez-H or W32/ElKern-C Regards. Nick Kail ( Medic and BDMLR computer 'guru' ) Lecture of Interest ? Earthwatch lecture: Thursday 19th June, 7pm 8.30 pm, at London University¹s Institute of Education. (Nearest tube: Russell Square) From Coral Reefs to Mangroves Ecosystems Interlinked. By Dr. John R Turner, University of Wales, Bangor & Dr. Mark Huxham, Napier University, Edinburgh. Dr Turner¹s talk on the threats posed to the stunning reefs of Mauritius will be complemented by Dr Huxham¹s account of his work in the biologically diverse but sadly degraded mangrove forests in the Kwale district of Kenya. Earthwatch Lecture Series. Free admission but by ticket only. Contact Earthwatch, tel. 01865 318856; fax. 01865 311383; e-mail: info@earthwatch.org.uk; www.earthwatch.org/europe ____________________________ www.earthwatch.org/europe Registered Charity 327017 Distraught Algerians flock to see whale May 26th Glistening black under a searing sun, a small whale has washed up on the shores of this town, possibly the most peculiar victim of Algeria's worst earthquake in a generation. Dozens of locals, seeking a needed respite from their own agony following the quake, flocked to the shore today to take a look at the corpse of the three-metre creature of the deep. "It must have come from Spain," said Abdennour Siman, 18, poking the body gently. "We never see whales here in Algeria." It was not clear whether the whale, whose soft flesh had begun to decompose, had died as a result of Wednesday's quake. But the whale washed up just a day after the quake hit Algeria's northeast coast and unsettled the Mediterranean, sending two-metre waves to Spain's Balearic Islands some 280 kilometres north of the capital, Algiers. At least 150 boats were destroyed, officials said. Omar, 17, who together with his family has evacuated his home and moved into a makeshift camp, was on a cliff overlooking the beach when the quake hit. "I saw the sea pull back," he said, recalling the quake that left more than 2,200 people dead. "After the terrible noise of the quake it just moved away in complete silence." ( source : www.thestar.com ) Re : Distraught Algerians flock to see whale 26th May Hi just to confirm your news on the whale after the quake. I was at the earthquake and saw the whale on the beach. A few rescue workers visited the site, which was only a few minutes walk from were the we were based in the Algiers sports stadium. Regards Simon Drayton ( MM Medic )
	3 Common dolphins rescued from South beach, Studland. 27th May 2003 5.15pm Durlston Marine Project received call from member of the public reporting 3 dolphins stranded at South beach. Staff from the National Trust at Studland called DMP advising of situation. NT staff on scene keeping members of public away and monitoring animals. 5.45pm DMP arrived on scene. Confirmed 3 dolphins in shallow water to south end of beach. 1 (smallest) appeared very sessile. Other 2 had periods of stillness interspersed by periods of thrashing in rocky, shallow water. Observed dolphins behaviour and kept public away. Gathered background from observers: dolphins had been present in bay since ~2.30pm. Seen coming close inshore and swimming slowly around bay before coming close in and remaining in shallow water. A number of children reported venturing out to pet and kiss (!) the dolphins. None of the animals had shown any resistance to the approaches of members of the public. Some reported trying to push the dolphins out to deeper water but the animals resisted and came back inshore. 6.15pm SMLR arrived. DMP & SMLR waded out to assess dolphins' condition. All appeared tired. None attempted to swim away from medics. All had recent cuts and abrasions sustained from stranding. 2 smallest animals were quivering/shivering. Breathing rate ~every 20 seconds. One (dolphin B) (est. ~4ft) had very pronounced fungal infection around left eye area and apparent fungal infections on flanks. Smallest (dolphin A) (est. <3ft) had several small (est. 2cm d.), round abrasions or lesions on both flanks. Largest (dolphin C) of the 3 (est. 5ft) had no obvious external problems and was the liveliest. All three were very vocal. 6.30pm Vet was telephoned and advised of situation. Instructed rescuers to keep dolphins moving to prevent chilling. Local vet informed and mobilised. 7.15pm Call from vet to advise of delay (another call-out). Expected arrival time 8.15pm. Animals kept moving. Breathing rates increased to ~every 15 seconds. Animals tiring. Eyes closing. Moved animals closer to shore to allow for easier access by vet. Kept moist and moved animals around in between periods of resting. Animals appeared increasingly lethargic. 8.45pm Vet arrived (Paul Macfarlane) and assessed animals. Decision was made to administer antibiotics to all three of the animals. All showed powerful responses to the injection. The animals were moved around to improve circulation and uptake of injection. Slowly, the smallest and largest of the dolphins improved. The largest dolphin was assisted into deeper water and began to swim freely - its strength appeared to improve. The animal was kept under observation and did not return to shallower waters but kept close to the other two. The calf was sexed and was female. The dolphin whose condition appeared the worst was also female. As rescuers approached the largest dolphin to determine the sex, it continued to swim further away. It was swimming much stronger than earlier and continued to swim offshore. The light was beginning to fade and observation of the dolphin was difficult. It was last spotted diving and swimming strongly out of the bay at around 9.30pm. The calf began to show good response to the antibiotics and started to swim freely in deeper water. Rescuers discouraged the calf from swimming too close to the rocky shore. The animal was very vocal and did not stray far from the dolphin still inshore. Dolphin B took the longest to exhibit any signs of recovery but eventually showed improved strength. The vet had decided to administer fluids and these were being prepared as the dolphin began to swim away from the shore. The rescuers tried to coax the animal back towards to shore but attempts were unsuccessful. The animal was vocalising and joined up with the calf who had been keeping a distance offshore. The two swam out to sea, following a similar path to dolphin C. The dolphins were last observed swimming strongly out to sea at about 9.50pm. Rescuers are on standby should any of the animals re-strand. Regards, Jo Wharam Project Officer Durlston Marine Project Lighthouse Road Swanage Dorset BH19 2JL Tel: 01929 421111 Fax: 01929 424443 www.durlston.co.uk Humpback Spotted Hi folks, I received a call tonight from Richard McKenzie skipper of the "silver darling" who assisted BDMLR Tayforth, SSPCA Edinburgh, and CRRU at the humpback whale in Queensferry in February. Apparently the "Jean de la lune", one of the tall ships participating in the festival of the sea at Leith Docks in Edinburgh spotted her at Anstruther in Fife, heading North. An article was placed in the Edinburgh evening news, but in a bid to save her bombardment from vessels they did not detail where she was spotted or indeed heading.....thats to say if it is "beamer" or perhaps a different humpback, although the species was confirmed as definately being a humpback whale. Elaine Roft BDMLR Montrose area co-ordinator Sightings The Montrose group of BDMLR have been kept busy, along with the help of Tayside police Wildlife Liasion Officer, logging the dolphins that are again traversing the coast between Johnshaven and Arbroath. To date, there have been numerous sightings of up to 10 groups, each with 3 to 4 dolphins in each. Last year saw Montrose with 2 residents for the summer that were using the Annat buoy as a safe area / nursery, and Dr Kevin Robinson confirmed that one was in fact a neonate. Elaine is currently collecting all details of these sightings and passing them on to Dr Kevin Robinson from the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit, and hopes to get shots of the dorsal fins later in the week for possible ID on these individuals.Tuesday 27th saw the group monitoring 2 of the Bottlenose dolphins which to date are reamining within the channel. The East coast is at present still throwing adult seal carcasses at us, but due to decomposition uplifts for post mortems have been impossible. Most of these carcasses are grey seals. The medics are now in the process of logging the seals that are hauling out on the Annat sandbank as last year we had mixed commons and greys hauling out together. To date, there has been 1 report of a pup that the Ferryden locals have been monitoring during the absence of the medics, and so far appears to be healthy and active. All recordings are continuing to be sent to SMRU (Sea Mammal Research Unit) at St Andrews in Fife. Elaine Roft BDMLR Montrose area co-ordinator