MELBOURNE, Australia. A rescue operation on the western Australian coast successfully returned more than 100 long-finned pilot whales to the sea, while 29 unfortunate whales perished on the shore, officials reported.
Pia Courtis, a regional wildlife officer with the Parks and Wildlife Service of Western Australia, confirmed that ships and a spotter plane were deployed to monitor the rescued whales, ensuring they stayed at sea. Courtis expressed cautious optimism, stating, “So far so good, they haven’t made it back to shore, but we will keep monitoring them.”
Local whale researcher Ian Wiese, who assisted in the rescue efforts, recounted the intense scene at Toby’s Inlet near Dunsborough, where volunteers rallied to aid the stranded whales. Wiese described the frantic efforts to keep the whales alive and noted the moment when the surviving whales returned to the ocean: “After an hour or so, all of a sudden the ones that were in the water that were still alive left and went out to sea.”
Despite the successful rescue, concerns remain about the possibility of the whales returning to shore. Wiese acknowledged this risk, stating, “They may well decide to come back to shore somewhere on another beach nearby or something — that often happens, but we’re hopeful that they won’t.”
Earlier assessments by a team of wildlife officers, marine scientists, and veterinarians reported 26 dead whales among the approximately 160 stranded. However, the final death toll was revised to 29, according to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions.
The mass stranding near Dunsborough evoked memories of a similar event in July, when nearly 100 long-finned pilot whales perished on Cheynes Beach. The area, known for its picturesque coastline, has historically been a site for such incidents.
Holly Raudino, a marine scientist involved in the rescue operation, emphasized the importance of investigating potential causes of the stranding, including infectious diseases. Samples were taken from the deceased whales for further analysis.
While Dunsborough has witnessed previous mass strandings, Thursday’s rescue marked a rare success. Wiese, reflecting on the outcome, remarked, “It’s been a very good story today because normally with these sorts of strandings, you wind up with a 100 whales beaching and five or six being saved.”
As scientists continue to study the phenomenon of whale strandings, efforts persist to protect these magnificent creatures and mitigate the risks they face in their natural habitats.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
