Lessons for keen whale rescuers

The movie Whale Rider didn't do stranded whales any favours, says Project Jonah chief executive Kimberly Muncaster.

"In the movie, they sat on them and towed them back to sea," she says with a look of horror.

"That's the opposite of what you're meant to do."

She hopes to set the record straight this Sunday, when the whale, dolphin and seal protection group will run a whale rescue training programme in Nelson that aims to educate the public on what to do if they come across a stranded whale or dolphin.

Ms Muncaster said New Zealand had one of the highest rates of strandings in the world. Mass strandings occurred in Golden Bay every summer, and there had been pods of up to 400 stranded at once, she said.

However, the course has had a poor response in Nelson so far. Only about a dozen people have signed up for Sunday's session.

"It's a shame, because we only get to Nelson once a year," Ms Muncaster said. "It's been really unusual. We're so close to the main hot spot area for stranding, Golden Bay, right in the heart of where strandings happen.

"Things can go a lot more smoothly when you've got people around who know what they're doing."

The course costs $80, or $50 for a student.

For more information and to sign up, visit projectjonah.org.nz.

WHAT TO DO WITH A STRANDED WHALE

Call the Department of Conservation and get experts in as quickly as possible to assess the situation.

Stay calm and quiet.

Take dogs out of the area.

Don't yell or panic.

Start basic first aid: cooling the animal down with wet sheets, towels and clothes.

Don't let them get dry. A whale's thick blubber means they can start overheating very quickly and end up cooking in their own fat.

Don't try to pull the whale back to sea by using its dorsal fin or tail, as it is easy to dislocate or break the fins.

Don't cover the blowhole – they need to breathe.

Don't cover the eyes – they need to see what's going on around them.

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paul   #9   02:10 pm Nov 26 2009

"Beached as Bro..."

John   #8   12:02 pm Nov 26 2009

You might want to add another point: keep clear of the tail. Panicking whales have been known to injure people quite seriously when they get slapped by the tail.

timmy   #7   06:31 pm Nov 25 2009

The most natural thing to do is to let nature take it's course. That's what happened before humans arrived in New Zealand.

lloyd   #6   06:04 pm Nov 25 2009

So drop the price and hold the next one here in Golden Bay! OK, Nelson's got more money to spend on $80 feelgoods. But the Bay gets the whales and, compared to the proportion of Golden Bay locals who turn out to help with strandings, assistance from Nelson is negligible. Of course, if you laid on chopper flights and latte I'm sure they'd turn up.

Mark   #5   04:41 pm Nov 25 2009

We could sell the whales to Japanese fishing companies and use the proceeds to fund the course.......

Scott   #4   03:42 pm Nov 25 2009

$80 to listen to what was just summarised in 9 points!? For $80 bucks I would expect my own pet whale for that price! :)

Heather   #3   02:38 pm Nov 25 2009

If most of the strandings are in Golden Bay why not run the course in Golden Bay? I think you'd be overrun. But a two hour trip to Nelson and back trebles the cost for the people most likely to be around when there is a stranding.

JeM   #2   01:37 pm Nov 25 2009

If something like this was funded then I am sure they would get a better response.

Clare   #1   01:32 pm Nov 25 2009

This is me....

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