Conservationists Fighting to Save Entangled Right Whales
Wildlife Trust's Aerial Surveys Identify At-Risk Whales
NEW YORK - February 4, 2009 - Another entangled North Atlantic right whale was spotted off the coast of Georgia this week. This is the third entangled right whale to be spotted off the coasts of Georgia and northern Florida since the beginning of December. During the winter months, the waters off the southeastern U.S. are a calving ground for North Atlantic right whales. In a typical calving season, only one to two entangled right whales are sighted over a five-month period.
Wildlife Trust's aerial survey team spotted the entangled right whale about 18 miles to the east of Brunswick, Georgia. It was immediately apparent to the survey team that the whale was entangled due to the large amount gear around the whale's head that also trailed behind the whale.
"We could see from the plane that the whale was smaller, only about 40 feet in length, and yet it was dragging five body lengths of line behind it as it swam through the water," said Patricia Naessig, right whale aerial survey coordinator for Wildlife Trust. The whale has since been identified as a six-year-old juvenile born in 2003. Adult right whales are known to reach 45 to 50 feet in length and can weight up to 55 tons.
As the aerial survey team tracked the whale, a disentanglement team consisting of biologists from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and conservation scientists from Wildlife Trust headed out by boat in hopes of possibly removing some of the gear from the entangled whale.
Once the disentanglement team arrived on the scene, they quickly noted that there were multiple lines going through the whale's mouth that twisted together on the left side of the whale's head, with three trailing lines each extending about 200 feet behind its body. Of particular interest was an orange buoy wrapped tightly into the entangling gear. If the buoy can be retrieved it will give the rescue team a better idea of where the whale first became entangled.
On that rescue attempt the team was successful in cutting off nearly 175 yards of synthetic rope approximately ¼ inch in diameter. They were also able to collect a biopsy sample that may be used to determine the sex of the young whale. Additionally, a tracking buoy was attached to the remaining trailing line on the whale. The tracking buoy will allow for the whale to be located again for further documentation and disentanglement attempts.
"For now the whale appears to be in pretty decent condition," said Clay George, a biologist with the DNR Nongame Conservation Section. "However there are significant cuts from the gear and it will more than likely deteriorate without further intervention." Previously recovered gear including lobster traps and lines traced back to the northeastern waters of New England and the Canadian Maritime Provinces.
"We are seeing right whales off of Georgia and Florida that have dragged lobster pot ropes over one thousand miles," said Brad Winn, Program Manager for DNR Nongame Conservation Section. "A number of these whales are critically entangled, and will ultimately die from being wrapped and cut by the lines. This is a serious and chronic issue that needs to be addressed if this species is going to continue to exist."
About Wildlife Trust
Wildlife Trust empowers local conservation scientists worldwide to protect nature and safeguard ecosystem and human health. Wildlife Trust is a conservation science innovator and leverages research expertise through strategic global alliances. Wildlife Trust pioneered the field of Conservation Medicine, a new discipline that addresses the link between ecological disruption of habitats and the effects on wildlife, livestock and human health.
Founded in 1971 by British naturalist and author Gerald Durrell, Wildlife Trust has built its reputation on 35 years of global research, education, training and experience. Research and conservation work in the United States include programs in Florida and along the coast of the Southeastern U.S.
Internationally, Wildlife Trust trains and supports a network of scientists around the world to save endangered species and their habitats and to protect the health of vital ecosystems. Wildlife Trust created the first egalitarian international network of science-based conservation organizations called the Wildlife Trust Alliance and is a founding partner organization of the Consortium for Conservation Medicine, a unique think-tank of prestigious academic institutions.
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