Beached whale euthanised (Australia)

A 2.8 metre sperm whale that washed up on Boomerang Beach was euthanised yesterday afternoon on veterinary advice. The whale’s calf died shortly after becoming beached.

Feb. 20, 2013. A pygmy sperm whale found stranded for a second time in as many days at Boomerang Beach yesterday (Tuesday) has been euthanised on veterinary advice.

The body of the 2.8 metre whale along with its calf first washed up on Boomerang beach on Monday afternoon where it was found by locals who managed to push both the mother and calf back into the water.

“Locals helped push the whales back into the water and the animals seemed to have disappeared however, today they were both found stranded on the beach again,” National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) ranger Fiona Miller said.

“Unfortunately the calf succumbed shortly after it was found the second time.”

A team of volunteers from the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) worked with the NPWS to try and save the whale, but with a poor prognosis it was decided that the animal would be euthanised.

Pacific Palms local Rob Donald (who captured this photograph) said that the outgoing tide hampered rescue efforts.

“I heard from a neighbour that there were some whales washed up so I went and had a look,” Rob said.

“It was sad to see, there were a lot of volunteers down there trying to save it but the outgoing tide made it a difficult so there wasn’t much they could do. It was a strange afternoon actually there were a lot of dolphins in close to the beach as well, maybe there were some sharks around.”

It is not yet known what caused the animals to become beached but analysis of the corpses at Taronga Zoo could yet provide and explanation.

“Both animals will now be transported to Taronga Zoo in Sydney, for a necropsy which may help provide some answers as to what may have caused this pair to strand,” Ms Miller said.

Ms Miller said little is known about the pygmy whale and that whilst the incident was a sad one it did provide the opportunity for further study of the species.

“Pygmy sperm whales are rarely seen at sea and, unfortunate as it is for the individual animals, much of what we know about them is gained from incidents such as this. The NPWS would like to take the opportunity to thank the ORRCA volunteers for their assistance with caring for the stranded whales, as well as the public for their assistance and cooperation.”

Anyone who finds a stranded or injured whale or dolphin should contact their local NPWS office or the ORRCA 24-hour rescue hotline, 02 94153333.

Source