Fishermen And Australians Work Together To Save 25 Pilot Whales Stranded On The Beach

Photo illustration (Snappy Shutters / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Rescue of 270 pilot whales stranded on the island of Tasmania, Australia continues. Finally, Tuesday, September 22, the volunteers managed to save about 25 whales.

More than 60 people were involved in the rescue. They consist of fishermen and local residents who equip themselves with wetsuits. In an attempt to rescue, they dive into the cold water to herd the whales and escort them back to the ocean.

"We established a method in which we place assistive devices under the whale, which will be attached to the boat. And we also have rescue teams ready to herd the whales in the water, ”said Tasmania Wildlife Service Regional Manager Nic Deka.

Wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon said rescue efforts would make it easier to calculate how many whales had died. However, he still hopes that the rescue team can minimize the dead whales.

Whale rescuers are working in shifts at #macquarieharbour. Some drove up from Hobart at dawn this morning. To help keep them warm there's a genny heating up boiling water for a coffee on shore. #pilotwhale pic.twitter.com/Bx9HKDzmkh

- Imogen Elliott (@Elliott_IAE) September 22, 2020

“We are dealing with large animals that are stressed for several days at a time. Sometimes it creates emotional baggage. This is a natural event so we can accept that we will lose some animals. We are focused on having as many survivors as possible, "said Carlyon.

Due to this incident, scientists are still investigating the reasons behind the stranding hundreds of whales. What's more, whale strandings occur frequently in Tasmania. Take for example when it happened to a humpback whale in northern Australia.

The rescue effort took up to two weeks. According to a report by Australian public broadcaster ABC, the humpback whale spent 17 days in the crocodile-infested fresh waters of Kakadu National Park.

Now the humpback whale has sailed the open seas in Darwin. Scientists previously considered options for guiding the humpback whale to safety, after it became the first whale known to travel to a muddy river. Luckily, the whale returned to the ocean by itself.