a 3- to 4-year old male long-finned pilot whale stranded in the Stanley River, PEI
SERVICE Wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, and clinical research (2013–2015) M Desmarchelier, S Ferrell, H Gelens, P-Y Daoust Funding for this project has been renewed to provide veterinary care for orphaned, displaced, stranded, and injured wild animals in Atlantic Canada. At the same time, veterinarians and students receive training in the care of wildlife patients; the general public is educated about wildlife welfare and conservation issues; and data are collected for clinical research on wildlife health. This project has an impact on animal welfare at many different levels. Relieving pain and suffering in wild patients—now more than 500 animals per year—is the first objective. The training of interns and students in good veterinary practice, enrichment, husbandry, and welfare of wildlife, through taking care of these patients, will ultimately increase the level
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SJDAWC News
of care provided to wild animals among the broader veterinary community. The opportunity to educate the public and students about wildlife welfare issues improves protection for wild animals in their normal environment. Data collected through the project are useful to monitor wildlife health in live animals—this facilitates a quick and effective response when a disease outbreak occurs in the wild, and is also important because wildlife diseases may affect domestic animal and human health. Active cooperation with Parks Canada, the Departments of Natural Resources of the Maritime provinces, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to assist locally endangered species, significantly increases the impact on the animals and the public in Atlantic Canada.
young stranded male pilot whale supported on a special stretcher between two pontoons
Pilot whale rescue A 3- to 4-year old male long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) was stranded in the Stanley River, PEI, in late summer. He was seen entering the river with an adult female, most likely his mother, and feeding on the abundant mackerel population. The female, likely scared by human activities over the weekend, left the river, leaving the young one behind. He stranded at least three times at low tide in the river but always managed to leave before the wildlife team could rescue him. Finally, one morning at 5 am, he was reported stranded again and the team was able to get there on time. A thorough physical examination revealed he was in good body condition with a few old wounds but no active problems. Blood was taken for health assessment and serology. He was then placed on a special stretcher between two pontoons that were inflated and hauled by boat (PEI Fish and Wildlife) downriver 16 kilometres, where the whale was released back into the ocean.