Environment

Pilot whales shot near Cape Town, rescuers couldn't save them

by amyjudd | May 30, 2009 at 10:26 am

1719 views | 17 Recommendations | 5 comments

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Short Finned Pilot Whale | Photo 02

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uploaded by Nikki and Jason

About 35 of the pilot whales that had beached near Cape Town, had to be shot after they became too weak and too distressed to be rescued.

Authorities shot dozens of exhausted whales that beached on a shore near South Africa's storm-lashed southern tip Saturday amid scenes of grief and despair from volunteers who had tried to save them.

Previous reporting:

About 55 pilot whales have beached themselves near Cape Town in South Africa, and rescuers are using bulldozers to try and push them back in to the water, but high winds and waves are making it difficult to save the whales, and they appear to be swimming back to the beach as soon as they are in the water.

The whales are common in South Africa and are aboue 3 metres long.

Six bulldozers are being used in the rescue operation, and rescuers and volunteers are trying to keep the stranded mammals wet, National Sea Rescue Institute spokesman Craig Lambinon told reporters.

"As soon as we put them back into the sea, they swim back to the beach again," he explained. Rough seas were also pushing the whales back ashore.

One whale has died already. This is the first mass beaching of whales in this area and volunteers and conservationists are not sure why it is happening.

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Nikki and Jason

at 17:01 on May 30th, 2009

These are actually false Killer whales, but great story. but unfortinatly most have died

Josiahslove

at 18:40 on May 30th, 2009

this beautiful guys was playing with a basketball. Has great balance!

Josiahslove has contributed a photo to this story.

Vanessa White (not verified)

at 23:52 on May 30th, 2009

How sad that with all the resources available the 'authorities' ,who failed to assist with the rescue, found it apon themselves to kill 35 of these majestic creatures. A very sad day in Kommetjie as those of us who spent the entire day in the water keeping the whales alive were shoved off the beach like naughty school children and made to listen to the gunshots from our living rooms.

Whale information (not verified)

at 02:43 on June 18th, 2009

This is an interesting take on the concept. I never thought of it that way. I came across this site recently which I think will be of great use http://www.whales.org.za . Check it out! Big thanks for keeping me entertained.