Wendy Slee

Two tales….

One story four years ago….. an amazing tale with an even more special ending….perhaps if you read the story I wrote back in 2005 – the Day of the Whales it will help balance out the following more disturbing story.

You see, that story was nearly four years ago.
This story – was this week, and again our south west shores have seen the heartbreaking and incomprehensible mass strandings of many cetaceans. Eighty seven whales and five dolphins were found stranded on the beach at Hamelin Bay early Monday morning.
Over seventy of the long finned pilot whales died there on the shores, along with the dolphins, with only eleven whales surviving until yesterday morning. Over 200 volunteers from the community and various groups, together with wildlife officers and veterinarians fought to provide relief and save these amazing creatures over the past two days and nights.

Humans Caring

The level of dedication and care by those who give everything to help the distressed whales is a very tangible and powerful energy. The connection between humans and cetaceans is a deep and almost primeval urge, our need to be near them, to know them, and to create interactions, is often beyond our understanding. But the emotions evident amongst all the human carers in these situations are real and a testimony to that mysterious link between our ocean dwelling friends and ourselves.

Yesterday, the surviving eleven whales were transported over land to the calmer but deeper waters of Flinders Bay on the opposite side of Cape Leeuwin to Hamelin Bay. It was hoped this would give them a greater chance of returning to the open sea and thus surviving. Once lifted from the Hamelin Bay beach with cranes, Large trucks were used to transport the whales in this desperate and unique attempt to save them, and after the 15 minute journey, another huge crane was used to lift them in slings and move them down to the ocean where volunteers guided them into the water and kept them calm and still until they were all together. It was feared if some were allowed to head out to deeper water too soon, the distress calls of those left behind would only cause them to rebeach themselves.

Volunteers hold the whales in Flinders Bay, while waiting for the rest of the survivors to be transported to the safer harbour

A crane lowers the whale down into the waters of Flinders Bay, Augusta

One whale reacts as it finds itself back in the ocean, dowsing those all around with the spray….either with frustration at being held captive by humans or simply joy at being back in the water

Volunteers get up close to administer care to the surviving whales

Once the eleven were all in Flinders Bay, they were guided out to deeper water by volunteers and professionals using boats and various other means. One female became extremely distressed and had trouble breathing, finally heading back into shallow waters where the decision was made to euthanize her to end her suffering. And then there were ten…

After suffering so much, what would this whale be thinking as he was lowered on a crane towards the water?

After witnessing the live whales being returned to the sea, I felt filled with hope for them…. but wanted to pay homage to those who had not made it. I wandered along the shore of Hamelin bay and silently viewed what could only be described as a scene of carnage. Front end loaders and trucks lined up to move the huge whales, some measuring up to six and half metres and weighing three and a half tonnes, to a disposal site. It was a gruesome sight on that once beautiful beach, to see the whales going to their final resting place in the arms of heavy machinery rather than the gentle caress of ocean waves. It almost seemed blasphemous, but these beautiful creatures had long gone home to better places and the need to remove so many carcases was a nightmare that had to be attended to as soon as possible. Sharks had moved in and bites were taken from any whales that remained near the water. The bay itself had become a potentially dangerous place with the sharks being lured in by the potential of easy food. It is not even sure if sharks had attacked these large whales before they were stranded as many on the shore were scarred and marked with wounds. On this sad beach, and surrounded by the sadness and death, humans worked with respect and silence as the whales were still “taken care of” with dignity and sensitivity.

I still wonder what makes these majestic and intelligent creatures commit such an act of destruction upon themselves. And why our corner of the world has such a regular occurrence of these mass strandings. According to the DEC, there have been at least 21 instances of mass strandings of whales and dolphins along this coastline since 1984. Some say it is the gentle slope of our beaches that confuses their radars….. some believe that more human intervention has created confusion or damage to their sonars or health, in the form of military sonic testing under the ocean…..in some cases strandings have been linked back to US naval exercise in the regions where whales have washed up onto beaches. Could it also be the series of recent earthquakes felt across the fault lines of Australia? Is there some chance that beneath the sea, the effects of these disturbances are felt by the sensitive cetaceans? Or is it that when a lead whale of a pod becomes old or unwell, that they make a choice to take themselves to a quiet beach to die, rather than risk being torn to shreds by sharks in the open ocean, but unfortunately, due to the loyalty and incredible social nature of whale pods, the others follow their leader into dangerous situatons?

The sad beach

the silent wave goodbye

The sign says it all

We might never quite know what causes these horrific occurences, but one thing is very evident to me as I witness or take part in the ensuing scenes – That for all the large numbers of people who rush to the scene to help and strive to save the whales, these beautiful creatures are doing just as much to help and heal the humans who get in the water with them, or seek to touch and comfort them. It is almost as if the healing and care extends both ways, as anyone who has taken part in “saving the whales” will tell you….their lives have been enriched and changed forever by the experience, by that touch, that look in the eye, by the sounds of whale song or language, or just the invisible communication that passes between human and cetacean at a time when it is often impossible to know which one needs the other’s presence more.

In the case of this story, the sadness continues, as of the ten released to the sea, six have since died and only four remain alive, but at this point in time, travelling safely out to sea in a group. The one redeeming factor in all this tragedy is that for all the deaths, there are still some alive who would not have survived without the care of countless individuals with big hearts and helping hands. And that the most important memory to take away from this is not the tears or sorrow and regret for those who did not make it this time but the symbolism of four whales swimming bravely back out to sea, to reclaim their existence and continue their journey.

Two tales, one of hope, one of despair….two stories, different endings….

One rides to the ocean and perhaps new freedom

One rides to eternity

More of this story can be read “here”:http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25234417-2761,00.html
“here”:http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25228579-2761,00.html?referrer=email
And “here”:http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=132200

(sorry, I could not get the above three links to print and work, so if you are interested, just copy and paste them…)