Wonder if he'll make it ...
Posted on 01/21/2006 9:45:06 AM PST by La Enchiladita
LONDON (Reuters) - A lost whale that strayed up the Thames in central London was gently lifted onto a barge on Saturday as crowds lined the river banks to watch a unique rescue operation that has captivated world attention.
Spontaneous applause erupted as the 15-foot (5-metre) adolescent northern bottle-nosed whale -- the first whale since records began in 1913 to have been seen so far upstream -- was laid on the padded deck to begin its journey to the sea.
"The most critical part of the operation seems to have been passed smoothly," said Tony Woodley of British Divers Marine Life Rescue, whose members performed the dangerous rescue.
But he stressed that the saga of the young whale, a native of the deep north Atlantic, was far from over.
As the barge sped towards open waters 40 miles (70 km) downstream, volunteers poured water onto the whale to keep its skin damp and veterinary experts began assessing its health to see if it could be released or would have to be killed.
Time was crucial because the whale's body is not designed to bear its own weight and it could begin to suffocate if kept out of the water too long.
The whale, one of the world's deepest diving mammals that usually travels in groups, triggered international interest when it was first spotted so far up the river on Friday morning.
Experts speculated that it was so far from its natural environment because it was either very ill, had got lost chasing food or had been driven from its usual habitat by military testing or loud sonar.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.co.uk ...
Wonder if he'll make it ...
Hire the Japanese. There are really good with tranporting whales.
Isn't it illegal to harass whales?
Sure, your comment was tounge-in-cheek, but Humans ought to leave nature alone!
Let the whale die, why surround it with humans, probably causing more distress than the whale needs, just let it die! It is nature.
Saving a soon to be beached, or beached, whale is Anthropomrohism at it worst.
I think you're on to something.The latest news I heard was the whale isn't doing well,including "highly stressed" so they may "have to put it down".Jeez.
Good point!
I saw the video of him swimming around and I was thinking...maybe all he wanted was a Guinness.
Also, welcome to Free Republic!
According to your tagline, you think about "brew" quite a bit yourself. LOL.
Seeing as how this feller may die soon, maybe he wanted to see the sights of London before he goes ... and that would include a pub!
Ummmmmmmm Whale blubber. It's not just for dinner anymore.
If that's the way they treat tourists over there, I think I'll stay at home.
When it comes down to eat it, drag it or smell it, you have to do something.
I thought this thread was about towing Hillary out to sea......geeeez
What happened to death with "dignity"?
Maybe I'm practicing anthropomorphism as well, but it seems cruel to me to subject a wild animal to be surrounded by beings never seen..beings that prevent the natural order of things, for their own selfish desires to be "useful" to appear "caring".
Care for humans, fools. Ani,animals, fish, whatever..have other rules.
Sure. When it's dead! Until then, let it be. Those helping are NOT helping that poor whale, they only help themselves FEEL good. The whale is probably frightened, and near death..leave it be!
......whale is Anthropomrohism at it worst......
All across the world there are orgasms in progress a young whale advocates wish mightily they were there to actually participate in a whale event. Something more real than giving money and putting a sticker on your car window, something more than carrying a whale sign in an antiwar march, these lucky Brits are hands on!
Some people have a knack for animals. They like to care for them. Some rescues are highly justifiable and rewarding. In this case, it may be futile and it's far over-publicized.
Because the wild creature came into civilized "territory," it's like Wow.
But your point, as I take it, is that this wild creature has the right to a completely natural life, including its demise.
Because it was bleeding, the whale may have had contact with humans or human objects, which may make the rescuers feel obligated to help. Just thinking of all the aspects.
What to do with a wild creature when it wanders into human turf is problematic. We always have to "fix" things, y'know?
Maybe he was just looking for a quite inlet in which to die. If it were me, I'd have a beer first, of course!
\\I love beer. No Guinness. Miller. Bottle. Frosty.
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