Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Second Mass Stranding In 2 Days Sees All 14 Whales Helped Back To Sea

The Canadian Press, 06 Aug, 2015 11:44 AM
    BAYFIELD, N.S. — Another group of beached whales in Nova Scotia has been helped back out to sea, marking the second time this week that concerned residents joined together to save a stranded pod.
     
    "They're still in shallow-ish water, but we're hoping that they will eventually sort of continue their way out," said Tonya Wimmer, president of the Marine Animal Response Society.
     
    The group joined Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the local fire department and residents Wednesday night after 14 pilot whales were beached off Bayfield, near the northern Nova Scotia community of Antigonish.
     
    The rescuers pushed the whales back into the water, but the pod remained nearby and became stuck again shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday, Wimmer said.
     
    "It was a bit of race against time, because the tide was actually just going out, and it's an extremely shallow bay," she said.
     
    "Once the tide was out, they were really going to be high and dry."
     
    After about two hours of work the assembled crews were able to successfully refloat all 14 whales, including at least three that were significantly smaller than the others — probably young calves.
     
    "The hard part ... is that this whole area is very well known in the summertime to be filled with pilot whales," Wimmer said, adding that their feeding habits make them one of the whale species that get stranded with some regularity.
     
    "This is the normal area for them to be. It's normal for them to even be coastal," she said.
     
    "[But] it's a little strange to have had two mass strandings in the past two days."
     
    On Tuesday a group of 16 to 19 whales were stranded in a small cove near Judique in Cape Breton. Despite efforts by rescue crews, eight of those whales died.
     
    Wimmer said there's a possibility some of the whales saved Thursday were the same as those in Judique, but it's more likely this was a different group. She said there had already been sightings of whales milling off Bayfield when the Judique stranding was underway.
     
    The cause of either stranding is unknown. Wimmer said one whale may have been sick and led the others astray, or the whales could have simply misjudged the tides.
     
    Wimmer credited the people on hand with Thursday's successful rescue.
     
    "I think anyone is hard-pressed to just look at these animals lying on a beach helpless and not want to do something," she said, describing how the whales called to each other as they lay stranded.
     
    "It's a pretty emotional thing to be involved in."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Bail Decision Thursday For Montreal Cabbie Who Allegedly Hit Men With His Car

    MONTREAL — A Montreal cabbie who faces seven charges for allegedly striking two people on purpose with his vehicle will find out Thursday whether he'll get bail.

    Bail Decision Thursday For Montreal Cabbie Who Allegedly Hit Men With His Car

    Political Leaders Spend Time Away From Campaign Trail To Prepare For Debate

    Political Leaders Spend Time Away From Campaign Trail To Prepare For Debate
    OTTAWA — On the eve of the first federal leaders' debate, Canada's campaign trail grew quiet Wednesday as the rivals prepared for their live four-way faceoff.

    Political Leaders Spend Time Away From Campaign Trail To Prepare For Debate

    Alberta Needs To Strengthen Program To Deal With Dormant Oil Wells: Critics

    Alberta Needs To Strengthen Program To Deal With Dormant Oil Wells: Critics
     A program in Alberta to deal with thousands of dormant oil and gas wells that don't meet safety and monitoring standards needs to be strengthened, critics say as falling crude prices could see their numbers swell.

    Alberta Needs To Strengthen Program To Deal With Dormant Oil Wells: Critics

    Trial Dates To Be Set In November For Pair Accused Of Alleged Mall Shooting Plot

    Trial Dates To Be Set In November For Pair Accused Of Alleged Mall Shooting Plot
    HALIFAX — Two young people accused of plotting to shoot shoppers at a Halifax mall made a brief court appearance today for a pre-trial hearing.

    Trial Dates To Be Set In November For Pair Accused Of Alleged Mall Shooting Plot

    Activists Squealing About Quebec Pig Contest, Say It Abuses Animals

    Activists Squealing About Quebec Pig Contest, Say It Abuses Animals
    Animal-rights groups are squealing about an annual contest in a small Quebec town that features participants trying to grab greased pigs

    Activists Squealing About Quebec Pig Contest, Say It Abuses Animals

    Globe-Trotting HitchBot Returning To Canada For Possible Rebuild

    Globe-Trotting HitchBot Returning To Canada For Possible Rebuild
    The hitchhiking robot that became a social media darling as it documented its travels throughout the world likely hasn't taken its last ride, its co-creators said Wednesday.

    Globe-Trotting HitchBot Returning To Canada For Possible Rebuild