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REPORT OF COURAGEOUS RESCUE OF 3 SPERM WHALES
SPANISH MEDITERRANEAN
APRIL 23, 2002
April 23, at 13:30, we received the notice of the existence of three Sperm Whales caught in a net, few miles off the coasts of Cartagena (Spanish Mediterranean).
In less than one hour, we were sailing towards them.
They were easy to locate, thanks to the position that gave to us the ship that sighted them, and the visible quantity of gulls that already had begun the banquet with this animals incapables to submerge.
On having come, we saw to all three tangled cachalots, of 7, 12, and 14 meters of length.
Later, we was informed that they had been sighted the previous day, a few miles more in the southern part, and that had been deriving, at least during a complete day.
The animals of 7 and 14 meters had the caudal fins tangled in vertical position, which was forcing them to twist the whole body whenever they were trying an inspiration.
And that of minor size, had his caudal pedicle on that of 14 meters, with what the head was remaining almost the whole while plunged.
On having come, the first thing that we did was to liberate the animal of 7 meters, which due to the weariness, couldn't be supported in his natural position.
This animal was found the Saturday On April 26 in the surroundings of the Cape Cervera by a ship of Arabic nationality, and due to his been evil, was carried up to the port of Alicante, where he died.
The other two animals, after more than four hours, weakening and cutting nets knife in hand, were put at liberty.
The animal of 12 meters that we baptized " JORGE ", name for being the boss of April 23, he was late enough in to recover, but ultimately, we could observe since he was moving away swimming of weary form. JORGE, had a few big hurts in the whole caudal fin produced by the net,
none of them of gravity, though he had a wound justly in the centre of wealth produced by a bolla lodged at the commissure, and that was very complicated to extract, though ultimately we obtained it.
The animal of 14 meters, to which we baptized with the name of "BLANCA" for the almost total lack of skin in the caudal fin, due to the struggle with the net, was sailing showing the left flank towards the surface; position that he must have supported during all his captivity, and though we noticed certain improvement in his evolution, this did not manage to be satisfactory during the time that we monitored.
These two cachalots, of which still we do not have news, are very easy to identify for its caudal fin, and we would like that among all could follow the track in his rough trip for the Mediterranean.
This way, any person who has information brings over of his whereabouts in the next months, in studies from aircraft or vessels, in strandings, or lamentably in some autopsy, we would ask that he should put in touch with us in this direction:
I would ask you to give the major possible diffusion to this message.
Thanks for yours attention, trusting that we prune to collaborate together and to know ourselves personally shortly.
D. Javier Moliner Gosálbez.
President of S.M.E.C.
C/Tolosa Latour 4 2ºD
30201 Cartagena (MURCIA)
SPAIN.
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