Entangled Gray Whale Calf Released By Newly Trained Mexican Response Team International Whaling Commission | |
go to original May 28, 2014 |
Working to release the gray whale calf, San Ignacio Lagoon. (IWC)
A recent training in San Ignacio Lagoon, Mexico, has resulted in the professional and successful release of an entangled gray whale calf by a newly trained team at the San Ignacio Lagoon.
In January this year, an IWC workshop was conducted specifically for participants from San Ignacio and Ojo de Liebre Lagoons. Two of the IWC’s entangled whale expert group (Mattila and Lyman), conducted the training.
Recently, a San Ignacio whale watch guide reported an entangled gray whale calf, trailing rope and several small buoys. Newly trained members of a research team were already on the water and able to respond quickly with the new disentanglement kit which was stowed onboard their boat after the January workshop.
Using the tools and techniques which they had learned during the January training, the team worked safely and systematically to release the entanglement. A line and additional buoys were attached to a line trailing from the calf. Over several dives, these buoys tired the whale, keeping him at the surface long enough for responders to grab the trailing lines and pull their boat up alongside. It was then possible to assess the entanglement around the whale. A line went through the calf’s mouth and wrapped around one of its flippers. A custom, pole-mounted knife enabled the team to reach the whale from the safety of the boat. Two cuts were made to release the gear and finally free the whale. The mother of the calf stayed calmly nearby throughout the operation.
Read the rest at International Whaling Commission
We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!
From activities like hiking, swimming, bike riding and yoga, to restaurants offering healthy menus, Vallarta-Nayarit is the ideal place to continue - or start - your healthy lifestyle routine.