CONSERVATION ISSUES - JULY 2005

On Thursday 2nd June 2005 there was a mass stranding of more than 100 False Killer Whales at two locations on Geographe Bay in Western Australia. Hundreds of volunteers turned up to try to get them back into the water. These animals are about two tons in weight, but the volunteers battled cold and rough conditions to try to keep the whales comfortable throughout the day  and managed to put them into slings and move them into deeper water and brought the two separate pods together. The rescuers monitored the whales from boats as they were moved slowly into deep water and  were successful in returning all but one to the open sea. The remaining one died, and an autopsy on the dead whale revealed it had abdominal bruising and an unusually high number of parasites in it’s intestinal tract.  It is common to find a sick whale among mass strandings, which suggests that the group is very strongly bonded, and look after each other quite closely, and from that point of view it seems that they come in with the sick animal and try to support it and then become stranded. The following day the whales were believed to be in deep water off Western Australia’s south west coast, for spotter planes have not seen the whales and so the whales are now not expected to return to shore. 

A report came in on June 9th that the Lifeboat, the Inshore Lifeboat and a Canoeist were harassing a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins off Sennen. The large Lifeboat circled the dolphins twice before switching off its engines but the Inshore lifeboat continued to follow the dolphins which were moving away and someone from the boat entered the water. A Canoeist was in the area, but probably not deliberately involved for I had a report later, from a canoeist saying that while out in his canoe at Sennen a pod of Bottlenose came by and swam under his canoe as they headed for Cape Cornwall.   

On the 18th June a pod of 8 Bottlenose Dolphins , including 2 calves, was being harassed by several boats and jet skiers, who were following them trying to get photographs, and unintentionally herded them into Hayle estuary on a rapidly ebbing tide, nearly causing the dolphins to become stranded. Fortunately British Divers Marine Life Rescue members were in the area and saw what was happening, and with the help of beach lifeguards they removed the boats from the estuary mouth so that the dolphins could reach the open sea. The pod was seen later in the day off Carbis Bay and in the evening off St. Ives. Police were informed about the incident and radio and TV warnings were given to boat owners.

There were 35 reported sightings of Bottlenose Dolphins during June, mostly of one pod of 8 including 2 juveniles which were in St Ives Bay from 6th to 14th June and from 17th to 28th There were no reports of them being elsewhere on the 15th and 16th so probably they were in the same area. On the 6th there were also 7 off Porthtowan and 8 off Tater du, and on the 9th there was the pod of about 10 being harassed  at Sennen . There were also pods off Looe and Newquay on the 12th and 22nd.. There were 28 reports of Basking Sharks, all of one or two, except a group of 10 well out off Plymouth  Three reports of Common Dolphins, 8 off The Wolf Rock, 25 off Port Quin and 800 or more off St. Agnes. There were 4 reports of unidentified dolphins, and 10 Risso’s were seen off The Brisons . A Striped Dolphin became stranded at Gwithian but it was successfully put back into the water. There were 15 sightings of Ocean Sunfish. Harbour Porpoises were reported 5 times , largest group was 4 near the Runnelstone. There were 5 reports of single Minke Whales and one report of 20 Pilot Whales off Cadgwith, A Turtle was seen off The Dodman and Grey Seals were reported 11 times, largest number being 22 on The Carrack Rocks. A Puffer Fish was brought up in a crab pot off Kennack Sands and 3 Sea Hares were found in seaweed at Gwithian. 3 Cetaceans, a Striped Dolphin, a Harbour Porpoise and a Common Dolphin were stranded during June, also 2 Grey Seal pups and a Compass Jellyfish.

Conservation Officer Raymond Dennis

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