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| Surfers and local boys of Sanur trying to save the animal |
We had a stranding event of a (suspect) pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata ) dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) this morning in Sanur, Bali (19 Feb 2013). One
animal, stranded twice. First at 7am, where the local surfers and beach boys
herded the animal back to the deeper water. At 9am, the same animal returned
to the same place. This time, the locals and the surfers loaded the poor thing
into a jukung and went to deeper water to release it. May it roams safely out there
at sea and will never strand again. Approximate body length: 2 m.
I learned of
this news from Benjamin Kahn, who got the heads up from Femke JAAN (Thanks Ben
and Femke for the heads up!). I arrived in Semawang Sanur around 11 am. Together
with Pariama Hutasoit who arrived before me, we collected the above
information. I obtained the pictures from a Japanese surfer girl (Nunome
Jun-san) who took the photographs and helped the rescue. All photo credit is to
Jun-san (Jun-san, arigatou zonjimasu!).
I'm concerned with the many wounds on its body. I’ve sent the pictures
to a vet friend of mine for expert opinion.
Also, from the pictures, it seems the people in Sanur had very good
heart to help it, but they might have mis-handled the poor thing. I’m afraid
that some rescuers held onto the pectoral fins of the animal (which is a big
no, because pectoral fins are very fragile, easily broken). When I talked to
the surfers, one of them might have poured water into the blow hole (perhaps in
an attempt to give the animal drink. Or they might think the blow hole
functions as a radiator...). Another surfer also stood too close to the fluke. When
the animal panicked, the surfer ‘enjoyed’ the panic swipe of the animal’s fluke
and almost hurt himself.
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| This poor baby had lots of pre-stranding injuries |
But then again, before I was trained, I didn't know the best way to
handle stranded marine mammals either. So
please refrain from judging these kind-hearted people. What needs to be
done is giving them proper, practical training on how to rescue the animals. [a
post on my recent stranding symposium and training in the Philippines is coming
soon]
I usually compare a stranding event with a traffic accident (knock knock on the wood). Rescue effort is kindly meant. However, inexperienced rescuers might actually give more injuries to the victim. It’s not that we shouldn’t help a traffic accident victim; I think we should. But it’s much better if we know first aid.
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| The rescuers brought my darling baby to deeper water. I hope it is safe and sound now... |
I spoke with my colleague Sarminto of the Area and Species Conservation
Directorate (Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Affairs) after the event. As the continuation of the national stranding protocol, this year the Ministry
is planning several rescue training all over Indonesia. We gathered that
the first training should be in Bali. First responder training, targeting beach
boys and surfers in Sanur, Kuta etc. Practical stuff, no lengthy documents for
them to read. Inflatable vinyl dolphins for demo. Maximum two hours session;
surfers might not want to participate in an event taking more than two hours. Check
the tide chart. Don’t do that during good swell days; no one will join as they
are riding the waves...
Rescue credits: Wayan Bima, Agus Giri, Ariana, Mogel, Made Sudarma, Mochang, Eka, Wayan Wiranata, Meranggi (Brotot), Mangku Weta, Jun-san, Machiko-san, etc. Special thanks to Ena Dive for providing Pariama and myself with a 'temporary office' for a few hours that day.
Update 20 Feb 2013:
I've received a comment from Nimal Fernando, senior veterinarian from Ocean Park Hong Kong (thanks, Nimal!). Here's what he said:
“The wounds look like abrasions, not very deep but quite extensive , so perhaps not incurred by a vehicle impact , but possibly from abrasions incurred during stranding (rocks / coral are possible)
As you know from our first responder presentation , they are probably not handling the animal as well as they should , there are photos with only one person on the animal . What concerns me most , is the boat transport where it looks like the animal is being transported without any foam / mattress to support the body weight. This will add to the stress on the chest / body etc. and exacerbate any respiratory distress.”
I forgot about the mattress. Not that I would remember it if I was there. OMG, so much to do...
Update 21 Feb 2013:
The jury is still out to decide whether this species is Feresa attenuata or Kogia sp. (either pygmy sperm whale or dwarf sperm whale). Will upload the final verdict when it's there!
Update 22 Feb 2013:
Update 24 Feb 2013:
Click this to read about morphological differences between Kogia sima and Feresa attenuata, just in case you find one of the two stranded on your beach.
Update 21 Feb 2013:
The jury is still out to decide whether this species is Feresa attenuata or Kogia sp. (either pygmy sperm whale or dwarf sperm whale). Will upload the final verdict when it's there!
Update 22 Feb 2013:
The
jury verdict is out! A team of online juries consisting of Danielle Kreb,
Benjamin Kahn, Randall Reeves, Robert Pitman, John Wang, Charles W. Potter
and Thomas Jefferson agreed that the suspect ‘Feresa attenuata’ was more likely to be Kogia sima (dwarf sperm whale). And before
anyone conjures up the image of the great sperm whale (Physeter
macrocephalus), I’d
like to say that, No, this is not the small version of that sperm whale. They
are two different species altogether, although they do belong to the
superfamily of Physeteroidea.
Update 24 Feb 2013:
Click this to read about morphological differences between Kogia sima and Feresa attenuata, just in case you find one of the two stranded on your beach.
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