Lost baby whale thinks yacht is mom

Jessica · #11 08-19-2008, 08:05 AM

There is a high-protein whale milk substitute, but unfortunately it's not as easy as just hand feeding it. Humpback whales can grow to an excess of 50 feet, and if this whale is brought into captivity it would have to be raised there as well. Whale calves put on several pounds a day during the first year they nurse, so it would be an extraordinary task for this whale to be raised by humans.

Plus... we don't really want that, do we? The best hope is trying to socialize the whale into another pod where it can be surrogated by a female already nursing her own.

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Rusty · #12 08-19-2008, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendy

One would think that with all of the research, and with places like Sea World and the many aquariums that we have, someone would be able to do SOMETHING.

I agree wholeheartedly - make some fish into a mush and force feed it if necessary - let it go later after it's strong. I just heard on the news that it's only 2 months old and could die within days due to its weakened state

Rusty · #13 08-19-2008, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica

There is a high-protein whale milk substitute, but unfortunately it's not as easy as just hand feeding it. Humpback whales can grow to an excess of 50 feet, and if this whale is brought into captivity it would have to be raised there as well. Whale calves put on several pounds a day during the first year they nurse, so it would be an extraordinary task for this whale to be raised by humans.

Plus... we don't really want that, do we? The best hope is trying to socialize the whale into another pod where it can be surrogated by a female already nursing her own.

Well then airlift it and drop it into a pod - but do something more meaningful than what they're doing... maybe they're trying - I hope so.

Jessica · #14 08-19-2008, 08:41 AM

I know it sounds cruel, but that's nature. It still operates on a survival of the fittest basis. It's a sad thing, no doubt, because it's a calf and everyone wants it to succeed and find it's mother, but the reality is that a scenario such as that is unlikely.

The issue with taking it into captivity and nursing it until release is that it won't be given the basic social skills that the pod can give it. It will have some natural instinct, but like humans, the nuture aspect of the pack is huge.

Brining it closer to an active pod could be a possibility, if one could be located within airlift distance. There is always the chance that the new pod could reject the lost calf, or that it won't contain a nursing mother, but it could work.

I guess the issue is whether or not humans should interfere to such a capacity with a wild animal. Some people think we should, others don't.

I think that keeping other boats away from the calf, and making sure it doesn't get tangled in fishing nets while making its way back to sea is really the best option.

Rusty · #15 08-19-2008, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica

I think that keeping other boats away from the calf, and making sure it doesn't get tangled in fishing nets while making its way back to sea is really the best option.

Agreed... you also have a point about survival of the fittest - why was the calf abandoned? Maybe it's sick apart from the lack of food.

Pythoness · #16 08-19-2008, 11:53 AM

There is no way humans would be able to bottle feed a baby humpback whale. First of all because there is no tank in existence big enough to keep one in.

Does anybody realize how freaking HUGE these things get?

There aren't any humpback whales in captivity for a reason - because the benefits (if there even are any) of keeping them in captivity are far fewer than the difficulties of trying to keep one in captivity. Not to mention the stress on the animal.

Basically. We can leave the baby to die in the wild, or, we can stress the hell out of it and probably shorten it's lifespan trying to "save" it until it dies in captivity.

Which one seems more humane? Who the hell knows. But if I were that baby, I'd rather stay in the wild where at least I have a CHANCE to find another pod.

Captivity is just another word for "death" in this situation.

Possibly just moving the calf could kill it - it's very very very difficult to transport large marine mammals. They have to be kept at a constant temperature, they have to be kept moist, and they can't sit out of water too long, their own weight will kill them.

Rusty · #17 08-19-2008, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pythoness

There is no way humans would be able to bottle feed a baby humpback whale. First of all because there is no tank in existence big enough to keep one in.

Does anybody realize how freaking HUGE these things get?

There aren't any humpback whales in captivity for a reason - because the benefits (if there even are any) of keeping them in captivity are far fewer than the difficulties of trying to keep one in captivity. Not to mention the stress on the animal.

The animal is going to die within days they say. I was talking about one meal to get some strength back for the animal (judging by the way my dog bounces back after one meal after being sick - I know it's not a dog but it is a mammal). While they are feeding it, someone can be scouting for pods. They should be easy to spot judging from my experience in Hawaii... they take up big areas. After it's fed, a quick ride in a sling (or whatever they use for Orcas - this whale isn't as large a a boat yet) and a gentle slip into the middle of the pod.

That's my vision - right or wrong. I must say, if anyone can figure it out, it's the Aussies. I have resigned myself to the fact that it may die. That saddens me.

wendy · #18 08-19-2008, 12:37 PM

Euthaniasia isn't necessarily an evil. Again, I really don't know anything about marine biology and ultimately I obviously defer to experts, but if they know the calf will die, and if they know it will be a slow and painful death, is euthanasia out of the question?

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Pythoness · #19 08-19-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

TAfter it's fed, a quick ride in a sling (or whatever they use for Orcas - this whale isn't as large a a boat yet) and a gentle slip into the middle of the pod.

That's my vision - right or wrong. I must say, if anyone can figure it out, it's the Aussies. I have resigned myself to the fact that it may die. That saddens me.

The whale might not be as long as the boat yet, but it already weighs five TONS.

frogman68 · #20 08-19-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pythoness

The whale might not be as long as the boat yet, but it already weighs five TONS.

Use a UH60 (Blackhawk) or a
Ch47 (Chinook pronounced (Sh*thook)

Either of them can pickup 5 tons

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Lost baby whale thinks yacht is mom

Nature and Environment