Retail: $2
www.gbweekly.co.nz
Friday 26 February 2021
Whale stranding at Farewell Spit
Beached: After 49 pilot whales stranded on Farewell Spit on Monday morning, volunteers arrived with sheets and buckets to keep the marine mammals cool until they could be refloated. Photo: Jo Richards. JO RICHARDS
Just over half of the 49 pilot whales which stranded at Farewell Spit on Monday survived and eventually headed out to open water. The bitter-sweet outcome followed two days of intense rescue effort during which Department of Conservation staff and volunteers carried out two re-floats and spent many hours trying to keep the beached pod members alive. At 10.49am on Monday, shortly after the initial alarm was raised, Project Jonah sent out a group text to its registered volunteers of a “possible mass stranding at Golden Bay”. An hour later it mobilised its ground troops with the message, “30-50 whales have stranded at Farewell Spit, please proceed to Triangle Flat. Take wetsuit, vest and self-sufficient equipment”. The GB Weekly arrived on the scene at 11.15am to find dozens of whales laying on
the intertidal flats approximately 1.8km along the spit from the car park and around 400m from high water mark. Approaching the pod, the distinctive sounds of a stranding could be heard – a mournful mix of breathing and squeaking – from the adults, juveniles and calves. A few minutes later, DOC ranger Darren Foxwell was on site to assess the situation, quickly totting up a total of 49 whales of which 10 had already died. By then it was almost low tide, meaning the beached whales would have to endure several hours in the hot sun before any prospect of heading back out to sea. “We’ll be hoping to re-float them around 6pm,” said Darren. Several of the survivors were clearly becoming distressed in the heat of the day, but help was soon at hand as volunteers armed with sheets and buckets trekked across
Relax
support@zentec.co.nz www.zentec.co.nz 65 Commercial St 03 525 8371
Computing Solutions
Civil Defence
THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2021
Christchurch, who were also on holiday, found out about the stranded whales at Pakawau Store. “We’ve never been to a stranding before,” said Martyn. Despite a lack of experience, the newcomers soon got into the routine, and by 1pm most of the whales were receiving some relieving care and attention. Throughout the afternoon Project Jonah’s trained marine mammal medics joined the rescue effort along with students from Collingwood Area School and numerous Bay residents. As the tide crept in, hopes rose along with the water level, and the stricken creatures began to lift off the sand. Gradually, the whales and their rescuers became more animated, spirits and bodies increasingly buoyant, and the long-awaited crucial stage of the re-float plan was put into action. Continued on page 10
Supporting Golden Bay businesses Networking, Backups, CCTV, Point of Sale, Antivirus, Email
Need business solutions? We can help with that.
Inside:
the beach. Darren gave each group a quick pep-talk on arrival, explaining that sheets should be draped over the whale’s body and doused with water, while taking care to not to obstruct the blow-hole, and warning everyone to stay well clear of the whale’s tail. The first wave of volunteers were predominantly opportunistic responders tourists who had learned about the stranding on arrival at the car park and decided to help out. Many, including Jackie and Warwick Peterson from Muriwai Beach, had never experienced a whale stranding. The couple were holidaying in Golden Bay and had decided to have a day out at the spit. “We came here from Takaka and were going to go for a walk, but then saw something was going on,” said Jackie. Martyn Elliot and Sian Nuttall from
Gardening tips
Free event this Sunday 11am at GB Rec Park
Movie review
1000 Books
ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
1