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May 23, 2007
Crews bang pipes hoping to steer whales to sea
RIO VISTA, California (AP) -- Two wounded, lost whales circled near a Sacramento River bridge as boat crews banged metal pipes to try to herd them toward the open waters of the Pacific Ocean.The whales, lost since more than a week ago, spent a second day Tuesday circling near the bridge about 70 miles from the Pacific. Both whales were apparently wounded during a run-in with a boat's propeller.
"The wounds appear to have worsened over time and their skin has changed from smooth and shiny to irregular and pitted," said Frances Guiland of the Marine Mammal Center.
Fresh water from the Sacramento River could hamper the whales' recovery, biologists said. Skin samples taken from the mother whale on Monday were sent to out-of-state labs to assess her general health and help identify her population stock.
Some crews in the more than two dozen boats blocking the humpbacks' path up the river tried herding the mother and her calf downstream by banging metal pipes beneath the water.
They hope to encourage the pair to return to salt water quickly, without upsetting the whales.
"Stressing even a healthy whale is not good. Stressing an injured whale is worse," said Brian Gorman, a spokesman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Normally when marine animals exhibit this type of behavior it's because something is wrong, in this case they are wounded. The fresh water inhibits their natural healing process, while the salt water helps aide the process. Hopefully they'll move back out to sea soon.
Found via CNN.
Posted by Dianne at May 23, 2007 4:37 PM
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Comments
Hey, this is Tony. May I add my thoughts from time to time?
Posted by: Tony at May 24, 2007 7:06 AM
As long as you follow the rules anyone is welcome to comment. :o)
Posted by: Dianne at May 24, 2007 7:57 AM
Hopefully they'll move out to the open ocean soon.
Posted by: Bob at May 26, 2007 10:03 AM