Rescuers are making efforts to guide stranded whales back into the ocean at Ujong Kareng beach in Aceh province, Indonesia, on November 13, 2017. An official reported that 10 whales became stranded on the beach, drawing the attention of hundreds of onlookers who took pictures with them. (SYAHROL RIZAL / AP)
In Jakarta, Indonesia, volunteers successfully rescued six whales that were stranded on the northern tip of Sumatra, but unfortunately, four of them didn’t survive, according to a conservation official’s statement on Tuesday.
The rescuers worked tirelessly late into Monday night, using ropes and patrol boats, to free six out of the ten massive sperm whales and guide them back into the waters off Aceh province.
Sapto Aji Prabowo, the head of the Aceh conservation agency, mentioned that despite some individuals sustaining injuries on the coral and the added challenge of high tide, their team exerted their utmost effort.
He emphasized that this incident serves as a valuable lesson on how to evacuate such massive creatures in case a similar situation arises again.
Prabowo stated that the reason behind the sperm whales, among the largest mammals on the planet, washing up in shallow waters remains unknown.
We plan to collect samples from the dead whales to determine the cause of death and for future research,” he stated.
Officials will bury the dead whales as soon as possible to mitigate the risk of gases accumulating and causing the carcasses to explode.
Earlier this year, authorities in New Zealand had to cut holes in hundreds of pilot whales that washed up on beaches on the South Island to prevent them from bloating and exploding.
Curious bystanders observe as rescuers make efforts to return stranded whales to the ocean at Ujong Kareng beach in Aceh province, Indonesia, on November 13, 2017.
“If we leave them there to rot, that could also cause disease,” stated Prabowo.
Volunteers will utilize excavators to relocate and bury the animals. An adult sperm whale can reach up to 12 meters in length and weigh up to 57 tonnes.
While uncommon, whale beachings have been observed in other parts of Indonesia, a vast archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands.
In 2016, 29 pilot whales were briefly trapped in a mangrove swamp off the eastern coast of Java but managed to free themselves or were assisted back to sea by fishermen.
Officials had previously reported 12 stranded whales in Aceh.
Edited Title: “Race Against Time: Heroic Effort to Rescue 10 Stranded Whales.
