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26/07/2006
Whale remains in Larne Lough
A rescue operation has failed to help a whale which is stranded in Larne Lough.
The whale was spotted swimming in circles, trapped in shallow water close to the a cement works further up the lough than this morning.
A team was continuing to try to coax the mammal towards open water on tonight's ebb tide.
Earlier today, Ian Enlander of Environment & Heritage Service (EHS) and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) said: "It failed to leave the Lough on a falling tide yesterday evening; the power station’s structures at Ballylumford may have posed too great an acoustic barrier at the Lough’s narrows."
The whale appears to be weak and is not swimming as strongly as it was yesterday, and was reported to be listing on its side. Experst said that swimming in tight circles was a sign that the animal was confused and probaby exhausted.
The EHS and Peter Steele from the IWDG will monitor the situation closely during the day. A vet from Belfast zoo will be on standby in the event of the whale live-stranding.
Mr Enlander continued by saying that although outwardly the whale appeared to be in good condition with little sign of trauma, it was likely to be in poor condition and could live-strand.
He added: "At least if it live-strands the 'care team' will have an opportunity to assess its health, but it is increasingly looking like euthanasia may be the most humane option for this whale."
It is believed that the current heatwave may have attracted the mammal into the area, and boats are being asked to keep away from the area to prevent the animal from becoming more disorientated and frightened.
There is now some doubt that the animal is a minke whale, one of the smallest baleen whales, which can grow up to 10 metres in length and can weigh close to 10 tonnes. Following examinaton of photographs experts from the IWDG said that it could be a fin or sei whale which are similar in appearance to a minke whale.
(EF/SP)
The whale was spotted swimming in circles, trapped in shallow water close to the a cement works further up the lough than this morning.
A team was continuing to try to coax the mammal towards open water on tonight's ebb tide.
Earlier today, Ian Enlander of Environment & Heritage Service (EHS) and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) said: "It failed to leave the Lough on a falling tide yesterday evening; the power station’s structures at Ballylumford may have posed too great an acoustic barrier at the Lough’s narrows."
The whale appears to be weak and is not swimming as strongly as it was yesterday, and was reported to be listing on its side. Experst said that swimming in tight circles was a sign that the animal was confused and probaby exhausted.
The EHS and Peter Steele from the IWDG will monitor the situation closely during the day. A vet from Belfast zoo will be on standby in the event of the whale live-stranding.
Mr Enlander continued by saying that although outwardly the whale appeared to be in good condition with little sign of trauma, it was likely to be in poor condition and could live-strand.
He added: "At least if it live-strands the 'care team' will have an opportunity to assess its health, but it is increasingly looking like euthanasia may be the most humane option for this whale."
It is believed that the current heatwave may have attracted the mammal into the area, and boats are being asked to keep away from the area to prevent the animal from becoming more disorientated and frightened.
There is now some doubt that the animal is a minke whale, one of the smallest baleen whales, which can grow up to 10 metres in length and can weigh close to 10 tonnes. Following examinaton of photographs experts from the IWDG said that it could be a fin or sei whale which are similar in appearance to a minke whale.
(EF/SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A fine dry days weather with sunshine quite widespread, particularly from mid-morning. Temperatures best across southern districts. North to northwesy breezes occasionally freshening around the coasts. Maximum temperature 15 °C.Tonight:Most dry with good clear spells bringing a rural frost in the south for some. Cloudier around northern coasts where the odd light shower may develop. Northerly breezes persisting. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
