Live Fin Whale in Baltimore

Mickeroo

There's a live Fin Whale stranded in baltimore: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0815/1224322199353.html

Anyone go down to take a look? Apparently the situation isn't looking too good for the poor thing. Still, if I lived closer I don't think I could pass up the opportunity to see a live one up close.

coulagh1986

very sad. Apparently its very thin so has been sick for a long time.

Mickeroo

THey don't think it has long left by the looks of it, just saw this statement of FB from the IWDG:

Euthanasia has been discussed as an option to put the fin whale in Baltimore out of its misery. Euthanasia of large cetaceans can be achieved by administering drugs or through shooting. Some have tried blowing them up with mixed success. For an animal so large only the drug Immoblin can be used and this drug is not allowed in the Republic as it is so potent. It is used in Northern Ireland and was used to euthanasia the sei whale in Larne Lough, which was the largest animal ever to be euthanased on the island of Ireland. Large animal vets in the Republic use Pentabarbitone to euthanase horses but the amount required to euthanase this whale would make it ineffective.

Shooting through the head with a high powered rifle could be attempted but it dangerous for people and can be very traumatic for the whale, and may require several shots.

Thus the IWDG support the NPWS in the chosen option which is to allow the whale to die naturally and hopefully quickly.

Dr Simon Berrow, Executive Officer, IWDG

rain on

It sounds to be in a pretty awful state

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/trapped-whale-will-be-left-to-die-563048.html

Padraig Whooley of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group says there's little hope for the dying animal: "As of 9.30am this morning, the fin whale is still alive but the situation has deteriorated considerably.

"It's bleeding quite profusely and violently splashing its body against the pier.

"The situation is as bad as we could have imagined."

loveisdivine

I urge people not to go down there to try and get a look. I know its tempting but its just stressing the whale out more. It makes me so angry people stood around with cameras, kids screaming and such. Whats worse is the people down there are saying its inhumane to let it suffer, whats actually inhumane is people gathering round like its some form of free entertainment. Something to do for a few hours. Its an upsetting sight but its nature.

If people are so desperate to see a whale, fork out some money and go on a whale watching trip and see them in their natural habitat. Dont go and gawp at a dying one.

Mickeroo

The Whale is dead now apparently according to IDWG:

Baltimore Fin Whale has died...

It appears that after the heavy thrashing witnessed, and filmed, about 11am this morning that the whale is now dead. The IWDG have been talking to the Naval Service and the Army about attempting to shoot the whale and logistics were being put in place for this evening, so fortunately the issue has been resolved. The IWDG will be meeting with representatives of the Defence Forces, NPWS and Local Authorities to attempt to put in place a protocol on how to deal with this situation in the future. We have done this in the past but clearly this needs to be revisited.

This has been an unprecedented event, given its location, but whale populations are increasing and whales will die and no doubt we will be faced with a similar situation again in the future. The IWDG wish to thank all those who helped and supported us in our attempt to address this situation and encourage those who have been following the incident to join us and get involved.

Dr Simon Berrow, Executive Officer, IWDG

I agree loveisdivine, always going to be an issue when one gets stranded in such a public place though I'm afraid.

dodderangler

Mickeroo wrote: »

The Whale is dead now apparently according to IDWG:

Baltimore Fin Whale has died...

It appears that after the heavy thrashing witnessed, and filmed, about 11am this morning that the whale is now dead. The IWDG have been talking to the Naval Service and the Army about attempting to shoot the whale and logistics were being put in place for this evening, so fortunately the issue has been resolved. The IWDG will be meeting with representatives of the Defence Forces, NPWS and Local Authorities to attempt to put in place a protocol on how to deal with this situation in the future. We have done this in the past but clearly this needs to be revisited.

This has been an unprecedented event, given its location, but whale populations are increasing and whales will die and no doubt we will be faced with a similar situation again in the future. The IWDG wish to thank all those who helped and supported us in our attempt to address this situation and encourage those who have been following the incident to join us and get involved.

Dr Simon Berrow, Executive Officer, IWDG

I agree loveisdivine, always going to be an issue when one gets stranded in such a public place though I'm afraid.

At least the suffering is over

Alun

@loveisdivine: I fully agree. We had an young grey seal washed up on the beach here in Bray not too long ago, and there were people completely surrounding the poor thing gawping at it, even allowing their dogs to get close to it. I tried to get them to move away and give it some peace, but nobody took any notice. I tried to contact the IWDG but it was a weekend (might even have been a bank holiday) so couldn't get anyone on the line, but left a message. Eventually heard back from them that someone from the Sealife Aquarium had gone over and managed to get most people to move away and that luckily it had managed to get back to the sea under it's own steam.

Also, I was walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path in September last year, and there were seal pups everywhere you looked on the various beaches. The number of people with loose dogs I had to shout at to put their dogs on leads and stay away from the pups was mind boggling. One stupid woman was even encouraging her dogs to get in the water and approach two worried looking parents who were keeping a watchful eye on their pup on the beach. I really despair sometimes

magicbastarder

of course there are going to be people going down to look. it doesn't make them bad or stupid; the whale would probably not have been massively aware of someone just there taking photos.

Desmo

Alun wrote: »

@loveisdivine: I fully agree. We had an young grey seal washed up on the beach here in Bray not too long ago, and there were people completely surrounding the poor thing gawping at it, even allowing their dogs to get close to it. I tried to get them to move away and give it some peace, but nobody took any notice. I tried to contact the IWDG but it was a weekend (might even have been a bank holiday) so couldn't get anyone on the line, but left a message. Eventually heard back from them that someone from the Sealife Aquarium had gone over and managed to get most people to move away and that luckily it had managed to get back to the sea under it's own steam.

Also, I was walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path in September last year, and there were seal pups everywhere you looked on the various beaches. The number of people with loose dogs I had to shout at to put their dogs on leads and stay away from the pups was mind boggling. One stupid woman was even encouraging her dogs to get in the water and approach two worried looking parents who were keeping a watchful eye on their pup on the beach. I really despair sometimes

I reckon 95% of dog owners are sensible and decent but some of the rest of them are utter ****.
1A) great big steaming piles of dog ****e on paths
1B) plastic bags of dog ****e in hedges
2) people ignoring signs (sometimes near nature reserves) requesting dogs to be kept on leads
3) people encouraging their dogs to chase birds
I share yer despair Alun.

Des

LostCovey

loveisdivine wrote: »

I urge people not to go down there to try and get a look. I know its tempting but its just stressing the whale out more. It makes me so angry people stood around with cameras, kids screaming and such. Whats worse is the people down there are saying its inhumane to let it suffer, whats actually inhumane is people gathering round like its some form of free entertainment. Something to do for a few hours. Its an upsetting sight but its nature.

If people are so desperate to see a whale, fork out some money and go on a whale watching trip and see them in their natural habitat. Dont go and gawp at a dying one.

Why did you go there yourself??????

dodderangler

How are they gonna dispose of the carcass
Surely there is something that can be put to good use on the whale
I don't mean eating it I'm sure a rotten whale carcass isn't edible but can anything be used and it and how do we put it back in the ocean? A helicopter? Tow it back in with a big boat capable of pullin up to 20 tons or more

kegzmc

People have actually blown fun whales up? That's a little harsh is it not?
Another option is to shoot it perhaps multiple times in the head?

Sweet Jesus the poor thing.

Has anyone tried to help it yet? Maybe it can get better?

Mickeroo

kegzmc wrote: »

People have actually blown fun whales up? That's a little harsh is it not?
Another option is to shoot it perhaps multiple times in the head?

Sweet Jesus the poor thing.

Has anyone tried to help it yet? Maybe it can get better?

It's dead now.

kegzmc

Oh ok. How did they kill it? Napalm?

Mickeroo

kegzmc wrote: »

Oh ok. How did they kill it? Napalm?

Died naturally in the end, I posted the statement further up the thread.

I hadn't heard of them blowing up live whales before that statement tbh, knew it was common enough method for disposing of a carcass alright. The rifle option probably would have been the most humane provided they did it right of course.

magicbastarder

it's only been used on a beached whale, where the person placing the explosive is in far less danger of being crushed by the whale.

V_Moth

Dynamite + Whale = You will have a bad time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vmnq5dBF7Y

Saw the Fin Whale on my way out to Cape Clear on Tuesday evening and again this afternoon. It seems the plan is either to incinerate it or drag it out to sea.

magicbastarder

this was posted by baltimore sea safari on facebook:

News on the Fin Whale in Baltimore.....There were several different plans proposed as to what would happen to the whale after she died. All of which were expensive and messy to carry out, the favoured proposal involved cutting up the animal and transportation by road to inceneration. A small group of us got together steered by Richard O Flynn, and we held discussions as to how we could preserve something of this poor unfortunate whale. Our proposal to the council and relative departments and agencies, was cleaner, cheaper and environmentally friendly. It involves returning the whale to an area of deep water and letting nature do the work of cleaning the carcass. In a year to eighteen months our plan is to return and recover some or all of the skeleton, and put it on display near to where the poor unfortunate creature met its end. Hopefully it will become a reminder of all that is beautiful in our oceans. A special thanks is due to those that have worked hard for this and made it all come together at short notice. Also thanks to all who offered advice and support, we will list a proper thanks at a later date.

CJhaughey

Whatever about killing the whale, I am sure the locals would have been less than impressed if the pier was damaged by the use of explosives next to it.