Wednesday, September 21, 2011

THIS POOR CREATURE NOT HAVING A WHALE OF A TIME




The call went out around midday September 19th to save a stranded Dwarf Sperm Whale Kogia sima – identified from photographs by marine expert Mike Meyer - that had beached near the slipway in Britannia Bay.

MCM inspectors and volunteers worked to stabilise the animal, which was still breathing, keeping it upright and cool. Other than a few scratches, caused probably when rolling in over the shallow reef, it appeared to be unharmed. Meyer explains that the so-called pool of blood in which the animal was swimming was in fact a cloud of reddish-brown faeces that the creature releases when frightened at the surface.

It was dragged back into the water where it rolled and floundered for a couple of hours before washing up once more. Again it was pushed back into the sea, but it considered unlikely the creature will survive and anyone coming across the animal is asked to call Bernie Pols on 083 425 7678.



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