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CetaceanNerd — Babies
Published: 2012-09-03 13:33:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 900; Favourites: 23; Downloads: 0
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138, 144, 129, and 53 (IDs of the individuals, they do not have names at the moment.)4 out of 5 rescued pilot whales that were rescued on Saturday, September 1st 2012.
This was the mass stranding that occurred in Fort Pierce, FL.
I'm currently working with Harbor Branch on the rehabilitation process.
*Update: #144 Passed away on 9/3/12, I'm unsure of the COD.*
*Update 2: The four remaining whales were moved from HBOI to SeaWorld Orlando for Long-term Care*
*Update 3: 61 Passed away on 10/15/12 at SeaWorld.*
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Comments: 10
Aw great photo! I think this really shows classic pilot whale behavior, the tight grouping at the surface, just floating together.
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Thank you! They were very close to each other most of the day.
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Aww, I've heard about these guys on the news. I'm glad to hear the five of them are doing well at the moment, but I do wonder; if they could be saved, why did all the older animals need to be euthanized? I would understand it if they had extensive injuries, but surely not all of them did? And could these youngsters really return to the wild after rehab? Anyways, awesome that you're on the team to help them, let's hope all of them get through good and well
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They had to be put down due to the fact that if they were pushed back out, they would have just come back in. None of the larger ones were eligible for rehab because of their size and the fact that no one has the space for them. It is highly unfortunate.
We lost one of the calves in rehab on Monday though, I'm unsure of why.
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That's very sad, though it also leaves me a bit to wonder about the ethics of putting whales like that down just 'because they're too big' to put it a bit bluntly. Not trying to pick a fight; don't get me wrong. I'm actually very glad there are people who care so much about these animals. It's just so unfortunate for the older ones.
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Trust me I wish they would have let us try to push some of the smaller adult whales back out. The whale I was with seemed healthy other than being on the beach for a few hours. She probably could have been refloated.
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I wonder why the decision was made then to not at least try. If all the viable and healthy animals plus their calves would have been guided out to sea at once, I wonder if they reall would have come back. If one releases a lonely female she might indeed turn for her baby, but perhaps they would have sticked together as a group? Certainly worked for the UK stranding.
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I wish I knew the reason why. I think our stranding response higher-ups (NOAA) need to rewrite the books.
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cool that you are a part of the care team for them. I hope they make it!
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What a unqiue shot. I got to touch a Pilot Whale back in Orlando its amazing how different to dolphins and other whales they are even though they are part of the same family. Such an interesing species, thank you for sharing!
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