Posted on 01/04/2005 10:11:19 AM PST by presidio9
Rescuers failed for a second day to save two rare dolphins in tsunami-hit Thailand Tuesday after a local official and environmentalists argued about how best to save the mammals swept inland by the giant waves.
The dolphins -- a female adult and her calf -- were dumped in a 300 meter by 200 meter lake left by the wall of water that struck Thailand's Andaman Sea coastline on Dec. 26.
Rescue teams, including a group of Greek divers, failed to catch the endangered Indo-Pacific Humpbacks Monday.
When they returned early Tuesday, a group of local fishermen and volunteers, led by a district official, showed up on the other side of the lake with a huge net.
"They want to catch them like fish, but these are mammals and if they get tangled up in the net they will drown," said Jim Styres of the Myanmar Dolphin Project, a conservation group based in Thailand.
Ignoring pleas from the environmentalists to give them the net, the official ordered his 100-strong team to push ahead.
The men stretched the net across the full width of the lake and splashed the water to drive the dolphins into a corner. But the net snagged on debris littering the bottom.
"It looks safe, but it's not safe because there are some bodies in the water," said one member of the Greek diving team, in Thailand to help search for victims of the tsunami disaster.
The recovery of bodies around Khao Lak beach, where thousands of Thais and foreigners are believed to have died, has been a model of international cooperation involving dozens of countries.
But the dolphin rescue has been less smooth.
BULLDOZERS?
After Tuesday's bid failed, the environmentalists, divers and officials argued over what to do next.
"We need some bulldozers. We need some grappling hooks and we need to clear this area," said Styres, who proposed to dredge a corner of the lake so the net could be deployed safely.
Sherry Grant, regional director for Humane Society International, suggested they dig a trench to the sea more than a kilometer (1,000 yards) away to allow the dolphins to swim to freedom.
The others seemed to doubt that would work.
Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, who watched the failed rescue, tried to put a positive spin on the day's events.
"What we have been doing today is the best effort. There is no right way or wrong way, everyone is trying to save the dolphin," he told Reuters Television.
The Indo-Pacific Humpbacks were probably swept ashore in the first or second waves, environmentalists say, and were stuck behind a 4-5 meter embankment about 1,400 meters (1,500 yards) from the sea.
"They seem to be okay, but they are probably suffering from dehydration," Styres said, adding that dolphins get their fluids from feeding on live fish.
Rescuers dropped fish into the murky water Monday to try to keep the dolphins alive. But Styres said they were probably too stressed to feed despite going for days without food.
The Indo-Pacific Humpback has a long, slender beak and gets its name from the fatty hump under its dorsal fin. Adults grow to 2.0-2.8 meters and weigh 150-200 kg (330-440 lb), according to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.
Scientists view the dolphins as broadly threatened by habitat loss, pollution and hunting.
perfect opportunity for sarcasm...but its just too sad, for the humans that are dying while these 2 dolphins use up over 100 peoples time and effort.
Doesn't anybody care about the fish?
If I could, I'd drop dynamite on the dolphins, then encourage the do-gooders to go do some good.
Mmmm, plenty of good eating soon!
I do, but just let me fire up the grill and get my lemon butter, I will be right there.
Where you want to just get in there and swim and hang around, and let 'em become accustomed to you. They'll come around. Takes time. Much fewer people.
Slapping and splashing the water and all that further stressing of the situation, does no good.
Incredible how the "sensitive" enivonmentalists haven't a clue.
Unbelievable waste of resources.
I guess Dolphins aren't as smart as they have been made out to be.
Your post reminds me of my favorite scene from "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly" where Clint et al. blow up a bridge to keep the soldiers from fighting over it.
APf
I think it is the "sensitive" environmentalists that are trying to get them to stop.
BANG! BANG!
- Geo. S. Patton
I guess Dolphins aren't as smart as they have been made out to be.
Same goes for the cows.
Isn't it about time to rescue the dolphins? The big question is when we start doing the same for the cats, dogs and rats. I sense a prejudicial intolerance in the whole situation.
BBQ for the relief effort...
"Is anyone here a Marine Biologist?"
My thoughts probably won't be very popular but I thought about this last night as I laid in bed. I initially thought it was silly to try to rescue the dolphins when there's so much else that needs to be done.
Then, last night I thought about all of the death and devastation these people have seen. I thought about how hopeless it is now to search for the living because there just aren't any. I thought about what an enormous task it is to recover dead, decomposing bodies and to clean up all of the debris.
I believe in one of the other articles posted about this on FR, some of these people who are trying to rescue the dolphins had been involved in search and rescue/recovery.
At times when we're stressed we all need to find a way to recharge our batteries. Maybe trying to save a living animal instead of dealing with the death and destruction is their way of recharging and of attempting to cope with what they've seen.
As far as the actual animal rescue personnel, I'd rather them doing what they know how to do than to get in the way of experienced aid workers.
LOL!
They are nearly constantly slapping the waters in order to cause a panic, among the politicians, and so they get it.
The panic.
Government moving as government does public works in the name of socialism(s), applying its force.
Here again, applying its force.
Where, the "sensitive" environmentalists get to face directly the product of their cries that all will end unless they are granted 4th Estate powers.
Well, here it is; the product of their "hard work."
Mis-application of power.
Wrecking.
Destruction.
Very "sensitive."
As usual, the leftist choir taking no credit for their "contributions to society."
As another FRPR recently stated, Being a socialist means never having to say you're sorry.
My apologies for being to darned tired to write well anymore.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.