Pilot whales mass strand in Kerry 03/08/09..UPDATE!
3 August 2009
Report 9, 3 August 2009 @ 12:30
There have been no sightings of the pilot whales so far today. IWDG personnel and National Parks and Wildlife Service rangers monitored the coast of Tralee and Brandon Bays from first light yesterday 2 August. Despite good viewing conditions, the pilot whales could not be located. It is very likely that these whales will re-strand in the area, considering they are probably weak and dehydrated from not being able to forage in their natural environment.
We would like to reiterate that if the whales do reappear close to shore, attempting to swim with them is not recommended as this will only add to their ordeal. It should also be borne in mind that pilot whales have been known to attack humans and other mammals, although such behaviour is rare.
Report 8, 1 August 2009 @ 19:00
Reports just in from sandy Bay, Castlegregory that the pilot whales are back. They are back swimming back and forth in shallow water but not at present stranding. IWDG and NPWS are at the beach to assess the situation but little can be done tonight as there are only 2 hours of light left. Full resources will be made ready for the morning which will herald another day in this continuing saga.
There are a lot of visitors in the area for the August bank holiday weekend and great excitement has been caused by the sight of these deep diving pilot whales so close to shore. However, we urge people not to get too close to the pod in the water as this will only increase their stress and confusion. Close association, such as attempting to swim with them, is likely to end with someone being hurt as a stressed animal is unpredictable and they may also be protective of the two calves.
Report 7, 31 July 2009 @ 23:30
Extensive searches were carried out today (Friday 31 July) by IWDG members, NPWS staff and volunteers and the shoreline was checked from below Camp village, right the way around past Kilshannig, with the bay itself scanned using binoculars. Much to everyones surprise, there was no sign of the pod of pilot whales and although too early to say, perhaps they did manage to beat the odds and escape to deeper waters. Obviously if anybody finds any whales, dead or alive, please do contact the IWDG or NPWS.
We would like to thank eveybody for their contribution yesterday especially Tim O'Donoghue of NPWS who was on the beach from 7am. Thanks also to Kerry Co Co vet Paddy Fenton and Depart of Agriculture vet Alan Johnston for standing by should we require veterinary assistance. Another learning experience for us all and another fantastic response by the good people and agencies in North Kerry.
Report 7, 31 July 2009 @ 09:00
No reports of stranded whales have been received. NPWS and IWDG are searching the beaches this morning in and around Castlegregory and in Tralee Bay but no sign of the whales. Obviously this would be a most welcome outcome although one or two whales may be found washed up over the next few days.
Report 6, 30 July 2009 @ 21:00
As the sun set on Sandy Bay near Castlegregory the rescue teams left the beach fearing the whales will live strand during the night. If this happens it is likely they will be dead or near to dying in the morning. NPWS and the IWDG are on standby through the night should they strand. Tomorrow may bring another opportunity to carry out todays plan or provide an opportunity to post-mortem the whales to see what was the cause of the stranding.
Listen to RTE News Report: Click Here
Report 5, 30 July 2009 @ 15:30
Based on observations, it is clear that it is only a matter of time before this pod live-strand again. We would much rather that this occur during day-light hours, when the condition of the individuals can be properly assessed by veterinary experts and IWDG. The plan is to remove the one or two apparently sick animals and refloat giving the whales another opportunity to leave Tralee Bay. After a number of attempts to encourage them ashore it was clear that the whales were too strong to allow passive herding and were able to swim around the boat. Rather than cause undue additional stress it was decided to let them live-strand in their own time.
So it has been decided to let mother nature run its course and leave them to live-strand, if that's what happens. This will enable us establish which individual(s) is sick and likely to be causing this stranding event. If this animal can be removed, by humane euthanazia, it will likely give the remaining healthy animals a better chance of survival as the "social bond" keeping them together in these circumstances, should be broken. We will keep you posted as and when there is any significant news.
Report 4, 30 July 2009 @ 14:30
Local NPWS Conservation ranger Tim O' Donoghue is currently on the water, in an effort to prevent the pilot whales from live-stranding at Sandy Bay, Castlegregory. Dr Simon Berrow, IWDG reports that they are now extremely shallow water of 5m depth, which is a very alien environment for this deep-diving species, which would normally be found in waters off the continental shelf edge which are in excess of 1,000m depth.
It looks increasingly likely that there will be another mass stranding of these animals. An IWDG team is onsite with purpose built rescue pontoons, which might be deployed should there be a consensus that these animals are suitable for a refloat attempt.
For information on pilot whales in Irish waters, please click the following link "species profiles"
Report 3, 30 July 2009 @ 08:50am
We have just received a report from Maeve Ellen Moyles that a mixed group of 8 whales and 2 dolphins are currently in very shallow water at Sandy Bay, Castlegregory, Co. Kerry. Their description of >10ft length, dark to black colour, with a round bulbous head, suggests strongly that these are the same pod of 10 long-finned pilot whales which live-stranded yesterday at Bunawonder, Tralee and we're herded into deeper water by Fenit RNLI. They were 1st observed in the area at 07:45 this morning 30th July and the fact that they have swam within 30ft of the shore would indicate that they may well live-strand again.
Should they re-strand today, it is possible that other options, including euthanazia, may have to be considered. Again, we'd ask members of the boating public not to spook the whales or do anything which might drive them onto the beach. In the event of their re-stranding, we'd ask people not to take matters into their own hands, but to contact local NPWS, IWDG or the RNLI/coastguard. Under no circumstances should the animals be dragged backwards into the water, as this will at best stress them further and will likely lead to spinal injuries.
Please note, as these are air breathing mammals, there is always more time than people might think for exploring all options. These pilot whales if kept moist, comfortable and calm can survive for prolonged periods out of the water.
IWDG will keep you informed as this situation unfolds.
The latest news is that the pod has been refloated by Dingle coastguard personnel with Kevin Flannery of Mara Beo and the pilot whales are being herded out into deeper water by Fenit RNLI. They are current off Little Samphire Island. This is a procedure which Fenit RNLI have carried out before under very similar circumstances when a very large pod of c39 pilot whales mass stranded under similar circumstances at Aughacasla, Tralee Bay in March 2002.
There is always some chance that either individuals or the entire pod will re-strand if their capacity to use "echolocation" has been impaired by the process. Being a deep diving species, they can easily become very disorientated in shallow coastal waters. We'll keep you posted if there are any updates.
Report 1, 29 July 2009
At around 16:00 on 29th July a pod of c10 Long-finned pilot whales Globicephala melas mass stranded at Bunawonder, Tralee Bay, Co. Kerry at position 52.236N 9.879W. Among the animals are at least two calves.
IWDG personnel who were in Kerry carrying out basking shark research off the Blaskets, are currently travelling to rendevouz with the stranding site, while others are driving down from Kilrush, Co. Clare with the IWDG rescue pontoons which have been successfully used before to refloat live- stranded pilot whales.
IWDG were informed of this unusual event by Valentia Coastguard Radio Station, and NPWS ranger staff have been contacted. Our understanding is that a joint refloat attempt will be made at 19:00 and this will be co-ordinated by local coastguard, agency staff and IWDG, and we will keep you informed of its success or otherwise.
This operation is likely to be a long protracted one which will go well into the night, as it is not simply a matter of pushing the stricken animals back into the water. The whales are likely to be in state of shock and their muscles cramped after hours on the beach and they may require several hours of support in the water before they can be finally released. So if you intend on heading down to assist, please ensure you dress appropriately for what could be a long, cold and exhausting process for all involved.
Wet suits, but preferably dry suits or chest high waders will be necessary to stave of the cold. You will need a complete change of clothes and to pack a flask of hot drink with food. Please leave all pets and valuables at home. Useful tools to bring may include: shovels, buckets, old sheets for keeping animals cool, netting and straps for lifting or carrying whales.
We would ask people to listen to the advise being given on the beach by the appointed "beach master" , and not to take matters into your own hands, as collectively those present at the site will have a lot of experience of dealing with such incidents.
We wish the teams present the very best of luck.
Publication policy
We welcome and encourage everyone to use this website. If stories sourced from this website are used in publications, either scientific or popular including other websites we would ask you to acknowledge the source of this story as from the IWDG as there are copyright issues which this acknowledgement will address. We would also appreciate any copies of publications/links that have used these stories so we can track the use of the site and make any improvements.