Whale update: lost whales back at sea?
Rio Vista, CA (May 22, 2007) - A Joint Federal-State-Local-Private Task Force continues efforts to save two humpback whales in the Sacramento River. Here the mother whale surfaces between a vessel from the West sacramento Police Department and the California Department of Fish and Game patrol vessel MARLIN. Photo by Bast Productions
(May 30, 2007) A mother whale and her calf – nicknamed Delta and Dawn – have not been seen this morning. They were last spotted Tuesday night, within miles of the Pacific and still making headway, after having been stranded for nearly two weeks in an inland waterway.
Scientists are hopeful that the whales have found their way back to sea.
The whales, which appear to have sustained injuries from an encounter with the propeller of a boat, were spotted in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta on May 13. They had swum from the Pacific Ocean far up into central California’s inland waterways.
Their injuries worsened during more than two weeks in the river’s fresh water, according to scientists and others attempting to care for the whales and steer them back toward the open ocean. These experts injected the whales with antibiotics on Saturday.
The whales are believed to belong to a group of humpbacks that migrated from Baja California, Mexico, to spend the summer near the Farallon Islands off the coast of California.
Their stranding nearly coincides with the 59th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission, which began on May 28 in Anchorage.
Also see:
Whales may have found their way
Strategies for luring lost whales back to sea
Whales in Hot Water: Global Warming’s Effect on World’s Largest Creatures
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This is very touching. In our human-dominated world, we injure the whales … but then we try to save them … as hundreds of whale watchers line the levee, hoping to catch of glimpse …
Whales OMG AHHHHH RAWR WHALES
I really appreciate all that the scientists and nooa are doing for the whales. I am truly a whale whisperer and have worked with the humpback whales and dolphins worldwide for over 20 years. I spent time today with the whales, at the levee, south of the port and got very clearly that they needed a respite from the sounds. They will be leaving the Port soon. It was great to see the crowds of people supporting the whales.
Yes it sounds like one whale of a story. Hopefully they will get them back in the ocean, the calf is in bad need of the oceans salt to heal the wounds and keep a serious infection from setting in. In the past I have seen where they can use a chopper to pick the calf up and move it into salt water and the mother might follow.Just a thought to help solve the problem that exists.
WHALES IN OUR MIDST – May 21,2007
I find it extraordinarily poignant that the mother and calf humpback whales who have swum up the California delta would be capturing our minds and hearts this week.
One can only wonder what the message may be in this unprecedented visit.
The timing so exquisitely coincides with the gathering of scientists and international policy and decision makers at the 59th Annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Anchorage, Alaska. As we witness the beauty, grace and mystery of Delta and Dawn this week, no attention has been given to the point that this IWC meeting is within a vote or two of allowing commercial whaling- led by Japan, Norway and Iceland- to begin again in the world’s oceans.
As demonstrated by the outpouring of humans over the weekend, and the tireless commitment of the scientist and marine mammal experts still on the ground and in the air, the human’s interest and caring for the mysterious mammals who live in the oceans is clearer than ever.
What can we do? Will the damage and injury done by some man made machinery and other human obstacles lead to their demise? Can we help lead them to freedom and sanctuary?
This is not just a question for the whales in the river in Northern California, but a global question that we, as citizens, must be asking. The fate of the worlds whales lies in the hands of the U.S. (and other) governments and their representatives at the International Whaling Commission meeting. It lies in economic and energy policy.
The predicament of the mother and calf humpback is a magnification of the picture. They are part of a global community of whales who are in danger, whose fate lies in the hands and minds of a few people in a closed door meeting, which follows a series of other closed door meetings.
I’ve never seen a whale that didn’t inspire complete awe and respect from the humans who are fortunate enough to see them. Humanity has always been touched and enhanced by the presence of these fellow mammals of the sea. In fact, due to their contribution to the ecosystems, our survival probably depends on them. Global warming, depleted food sources, development, noise and machinery may be challenges beyond our control.
BUT officials and governments at the International Whaling Commission can vote to BAN ALL WHALING, the week of May 28, 2007.
I’m deeply grateful to Delta and Dawn, the mother and calf who have captured our attention. May they make it, quickly, to the ocean and may all the world’s whales live long lives in safety, freedom and sanctuary.
Robin Mankey
And this dicussion is completely absent in the general media which only presents what sells. The touching story of survival is not presented in the context of the bigger issue.
Robin, thank you for your beautiful essay and for increasing our awareness …
Deborah
i volunteer at a local park to empty monofilamint line dump bins, after seeing both pelicans and pictures of manatees entangled in line. the pictures are depressing but the actual sight of shorebirds, or any bird for that matter,entangled in monofilament line is enough to move someone to want to help. some would say that anthromorposising (i dont know nor care at this time if this is the correct spelling) animals is wrong, yet to see another living being in pain or confusion,due to my behavior or the behavior of others of my genus is both depressing and yet at the same time it forces me to try and lead by example. we cant change the world but if we can just make one other person think about their actions we have made the best difference we can hope for
Sam, I agree. Being inspired to help suffering creatures – or our human brothers and sisters elsewhere on the globe – is part of what’s best about being human. IMHO.
Thank you.
Deborah
Wasn’t there a whale — I think people named him Humphrey – that was stuck in the same river for two months or so? Back in the 1990s, I think. And he made it back to the ocean OK. With human help.
How sad. i hope they r okay. i am writing a story on them in school
Thanks Robin, You made excellent points. I believe these whales are diplomats for their people as were Keiko and Luna in the Orca realm. There are many websites where we can send a message directly to Bush and to our own representatives about the whaling issue. One of them is Defenders of Wildlife. Great and dedicated group. I have been spending more time with the whales, here in Sacramento, and the sounds from the pipes are shattering to their hearing. I am glad to see the flotilla paid attention to the whales reaction of tail and fluke flaps. The whales are truly gentle beings and this is a way to protest and not injury any humans…. The mother is concerned about transient orca, that’s why she is there in the river now. they were alluding the transient orca after being forced off shore into deeper waters by the algae. The mother nad calf were tracked by the orcas, she headed into the bay for safety. I am worried and so is the mother, that if they are forced back out of the bay with wounds, they will fall victim to the transient orca and sharks.I will be back with them tomorrow to support them and witness for them . Thanks again and hope to meet up one day, Robin, in the whale world. Maureen Belle
It’s so ironic to me that while the headlines are filled with saving these two whales, most of the media (not including YOU, Earth & Sky) are just ignoring the fact that many more whales are going to die if whaling is allowed. and that meeting is going on right now.
Thank you Terry, we did place a mention about the meeting of the International Whaling Commission in this article, but we wouldn’t have known about this meeting if it hadn’t been brought to our attention by Robin in comment #4, above. Many thanks to our readers for keeping us up to date! We at Earth & Sky value your help and are grateful.
Deborah
Fire hoses? Why not start with garden hoses and move up from there?
Whales are big! They wouldn’t even notice the spray from a garden hose. Plus, what spiget would you use. I assume here that they will use fireboats.
I trust that the experts who are trying to help the whales are doing their best to make the right decisions …
Hooray! You go girz!
In this world of self-conceit and self-destruction, am just grateful that some of us care enough to try and help the whales.
Hey, glad to see you people the other side of the pond are just as silly about whales as we are.
I’m not sure why this story was so compelling. I just know that I and the other Earth & Sky editors simply couldn’t leave it alone. As we updated this story, we also spoke to each other, frequently, about the progress of the whales. Something about these whales touched us profoundly. Maybe it’s just the chance to bear witness to wild nature … surely we are a part of it!
Deborah
I find this story very interesting. It makes me wonder what is going on, a few months back they rescued an artic sea lion, in a south Florida cannal, how it got there no one knows, it was badly dehydrated and died shortly after the rescue though.
I wonder where they are now. I hope thay are safe and all our orayers are with them.
May God Bless Delta And Dawn!!!
I hope your home, with your family and friends, animal lover.
Does anyone know if the whales ever got to the safety of the ocean, and if they were safe from the transient orcas and sharks after that? I learned that the transient orcas eat meat, while resident orcas are vegetarians (maybe not exclusively). I read about the International Whaling Commission recently in a book about whales; I can look up the book if anyone is interested. I probably read about 12 books on whales that I requested from the library after I went to Baja, Mexico to a whale watching camp which was for Gray whales who went to the lagoons to give birth, while others went there to mate. Apparently some nations, as mentioned above, are interested in resuming whaling after it was banned some time ago. Many nations also ignored the decisions to not whale, and continued – illegally – to do what they want instead of what is good for the whales. The whale populations are so low, and some whales have been completely decimated.