Whale rescue 101
Greenpeace receptionist Raechel Thomas had a nail-biting Saturday, wetsuit clad and on stand by to save a whale! Here’s her story…
When I heard that Project Jonah (a whales protection group) was running Marine Mammal Medic Courses, I jumped at the chance to get involved. The course was a one day intensive down at Long Bay Beach, designed to equip people to be able to assist in saving stranded whales. New Zealand has the highest number of strandings in the world, but it also has the highest rescue success rate - 95%. Besides illness and injury, whales strand because of landforms and the tide. Regular stranding points around the world all have the same characteristics - a thin wedge of land/sand, possibly hooked around. That coupled with incoming/outgoing tides churn the sand and therefore the whales’ sonar doesn’t read there is land behind it.
There was a theory component of the course which included things like the biology of whales and health and safety (of us humans too!). The hands- on component involved a life-size Minke whale, which, when filled with water, weighed 9 tonnes. From a distance it looks remarkably real; so real in fact that several people sprinted down the beach to get a look and try and help the poor stranded whale. Using the replica whale, we were taught how to place a whale on an inflatable pontoon; the rolling procedure for getting the pontoon under them, how to ensure their head and tail are the correct length with regards to overhang, and how to place the fins correctly.
Project Jonah is a world leader in stranding procedures and their pontoon is a world first. (The pontoon is like a sling with two inflatable pontoons either side - once the whale has been placed on there, you then inflate it).
At the end of my course, I felt ready to assist at a stranding, but secretly hoped it would never happen!!
Then on Saturday, just as I was contemplating what do to with my day, I got a text from Project Jonah. I was told there was Orca stranding not 5 kms from my home and that I was to stand by! I ran round in a slight panic getting my bag together and chucking on my wet suit. I was nervous as this would be my first stranding! An hour and a half later, I was still sitting in my wet suit and my ugh boots waiting for the call. I didn’t end up being required for the re-floating as it was too dangerous for her and us. She was instead transported to Takapuna beach for releasing.
So, I’ve had my official practice run for the real thing. Again, here’s hoping I never have to actually put my new-found skills to use!
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Good on ya Raech! I also wanna do the course. The more people trained in these techniques the better I think, in the country with the biggest number of strandings in the world! I wonder how that little whale is doing now?
Hey Fran
Thanks - its invaluable really - everyone should do it!!!! The whale hasnt been seen since last Sunday and hopefully has joined up with a pod that hangs about quite a bit just off Waiheke Island.
Hi Raech. Thanks a million for being on standby last week. Trained volunteers are vital to the success of any stranding rescue mission. Project Jonah has marine mammal medic courses scheduled in Auckland, the Bay of Islands and the Coromandel in October and November, and we’ll be scheduling further courses in both the North and South Island in the coming months. To check out dates and more details about the course, go to our website http://www.projectjonah.org.nz. Thanks again Raech for your support!
Nice one Ray Charles!
My ocean
The sound of nothing but the wind,
the earth beneath your feet,
the water splashing near and far,
your heart begins to race,
as you walk in calmly,
cold at first..
then there it is that sudden burst.
This crystal blue shows no remorse,
it’s not the rain but the ocean at your glory,
that first dip under the sea at bay,
death seems close,but show no fear,
the water is calm for you my dear,
many will share this long lasting love,
this,a world is covered,for salts to offer,
the shells beneath your feet will crush,
but the sands on this beach are never rough.
To beautiful mammals this is their home,
not much left now,now where are they to go?
We have this love,but how can we keep it?
if you loved it so much,then why do you disease it?
your plastics and your waste will never cure,
the ocean that was once beauty is now good for a sewer.
Yet we stand in this water that we think will be forever,
if only you knew,but you’re not that clever.
we cannot drink what mother nature has to offer,
give something back,why can’t we love her.
-Toots.
If only we could appreciate something so beautiful the sea the ocean whatever you want to call it,more than enough of the ocean is covered in rubbish it makes me sick to my stomach.
We have some of the best beaches in the world in Australia,but it’s not always going to be perfect. Give litter the flick…don’t be hypocrites,if you really love the beach that much,help out.
one piece of rubbish per day,imagine what that could do?