Whale tale has happy ending

 

What began as a playful frolic in Mangawhai Estuary for a pod of Orcas turned into a systematic rounding up of stingray in a hunt for food and then a stranding at Te Arai of what was probably an over-zealous youngster throwing itself into too shallow water.

While attempts to save the calf were successful the incident provided a number of locals with a close up and personal association with an animal restricted to tourism photographs for most.

Locals were on the scene very quickly as were DoC and Project Jonah staff and Murray Dix from the Mangawhai Surf Lifesaving Club brought rescue mats and portable pontoons to assist in re-floating the calf.

Throughout the ordeal the calf showed its panic by squealing or even screaming out for its mother and, as rescuers kept it hydrated well into the night to reduce stress, clicked its sonar mechanism in constant efforts to maintain contact with the rest of the pod.

Though weighing around half a tonne, the youngster was able to be carried back into the water by helpers around midnight when it was towed out to deep water by surf club members.

As there was no sign of the pod the next morning the operation was considered a success and locals were praised for their efforts by Project Jonah staff.

“They stink, just like burley or fish rubbish, and after washing our clothes three times, the smell was still there,” related one helper.
Though not particularly enarmoured by the smell of the whale, she did say the rescue had been an interesting exercise especially as there was a successful outcome.

Photographs supplied by Darryn Galpin, Nelson.