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A 35-FOOT SPERM WHALE which washed up on a beach near Dungarvan in Co Waterford yesterday, with little hope of survival, has died there this morning.
The whale, which was stranded on the beach at Cunniger spit yesterday, died this morning around 24 hours after it washed up.
The animal was clearly in some distress and appeared to have been unwell. It had been spotted in difficulty off the Hook peninsula on Thursday evening.
Simon Berrow of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group explained that it is unusual for a sperm whale to be found swimming so close to land, and that once the creature had washed up there was little that could be done to help it.
“Once they’re on the continental shelf they’re way off where they’d normally live and feed. If they’ve been away from there and they haven’t fed, they get dehydrated quite quickly because they take their water out of their food.
“It was inevitable, really – there’s not a lot we can do with a stranded whale that size. We can’t float it, and we can’t euthanise it, because we don’t have enough drugs for a creature of its size.
“The best we could do was to let it die peacefully without being stressed and harassed. In many ways it’s blessed that it died fairly quickly.”
In other circumstances, he added, sperm whales could remain alive for several days.
Berrow expressed some surprise that the whale – which appeared to not yet have reached full adult maturity – seemed ‘quite clean’ and did not show any signs of contact with squid, from which sperm whales would usually feed.
The mammal’s cause of death will likely never be known.
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It’s very sad that he had to die and that nothing could be done to save him.
Went to visit him yesterday poor guy! – It is a blessing he passed away within 24 hours, but yea – sad that nothing could be done.
I think that its now time for Irelands marine organisations to put together a plan for beached/stranded whales and dolphins, Health and Safety of the people who come see them and for the animal concerned. It should include all the drugs to be stocked to deal with these circumstances in the future.
In many parts of the world such plans exist. In Australia they have a fantastic marine rescue team who work with local animal experts to decide if its a case of rescue or euthanasia and they have all the equipment to safely follow through for the benefit of all species concerned.
IWDG do marine rescue workshops but I am not aware of them actually rescuing any oceanwildlife and would love to hear of their experiences if they have. The Seal Sanctuary and thier volunteers do a fantastic job with Seals all around the coasts.
I hope we extend the love and respect that we show whales and dolphins in Irish waters, to the whole oceans and that this whale has touched many people to want to defend, conserve and protect whales and dolphins in the oceans of the world.
You mention “all the drugs to be stocked to deal with these circumstances in the future”. Do you mean drugs for euthanisation?
Rescue should always be the aim, returning the animal to the ocean to live its natural life.
in my opinion, if an animal is deemed to sick or injured to survive, by appropriate qualified and experienced people, then yes the animal should be euthanised to stop it suffering any further.
Ok, but you wouldn’t be suggesting drugs (antibiotics etc) for any other purpose? To be honest, I think there are better ways of using limited resources for the benefit of cetaceans.
I am Pro life, if its a case of AB’s and on your way, then yes. Limited resources yes, but there are people like myself out here, defending, conserving and protecting whales and dolphins in all parts of the world who would be happy to do what it takes to protect ocean wildlife.
I am unfortunatly unemployed but do have all the experience and skills necessary to work with the groups and agencies to put together a plan and to fundraise to ensure the necessary equipment and supplies are there. It would be nice if someone would fund a small salary for this essential work. I already volunteer for an ocean conservation organisation and trying desperately to find a job.
Does it not bother you to think that antibiotics can hammer a human system, and we have little understanding of the effect they will have on a cetacean’s body? Again, this just seems all too suggestive of wanting to do something, regardless of whether or not it really is in the animal’s best interests.
The animals best interest is my only consideration, this is why I said its time the marine organisations in Ireland drew up a plan. I am not a vet but I do know that in Australia they have a fantastic program where the whales and dolphins that do strand are returned to the ocean, are treated if appropriate or euthanised if nothing can be done for them.
It was yourself that mentioned AB’s !
I am an active volunteer for an organisation that does defend, conserve and protect ocean wildlife’s, so I am not inexperienced in conservation matters.
What experience do you have in animal conservation, health etc, and would you be willing to be part of a group to draw up a plan to serve in future cases like this ?
35 feet like a long haulage truck! How sad! I often heard this but never explain why too many whales landed, waiting to die.
Toureag, there isnt one simple answer for why whales and dolphins strand. It can be illness but it can also be caused by sonic equipment that we use, it turns thier inner ear to jelly and they loose the ability of balance/direction. As we rely on our inner ear for balance.
Then of course there are the ship strikes, the entanglement in nets, mercury poison, and toxic poison from our rubbish and polution, eating plastic etc etc etc.
If the ceteceans are from pods then if one animal strands the others try to support it and follow. there are reasons we don’t know !
With less than 1% of the population of Fin whales in the oceans compaired to prewhaling figures, the whales and dolphins need all the protection that they can get. In Ireland and in all the Oceans. Less than 600 miles from our coast 2000 Pilot whales will be killed.
How do they dispose of the carcass now?? Let’s hope they don’t use dynamite as they did in the States…..
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