16/02/2005 - The beaked
whale that stranded itself on Western Australia's
Busselton coast yesterday has been successfully
returned to open water.
"I am delighted that the whale has been
released and congratulate everyone involved
in this phenomenal rescue effort," the
Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell, said today.
A rescue team from WA's Conservation and
Land Management Authority worked throughout
Tuesday to transfer the 4.6 metre long adolescent
whale into deep water and were rewarded when
the whale swam away.
"The Australian Government is already
funding the establishment of a national whale
strandings database and now we are working
towards the development of a marine mammal
strandings network," he said.
"The Australian Government is also working
towards developing a national standard for
the collection of scientific samples to assist
in research into the causes of marine mammal
strandings."
Senator Campbell said Aristotle had been
perplexed by this mystery as far back 350BC.
"It is not known why they sometimes run
aground on the seashore, for it is asserted
that this happens rather frequently when the
fancy takes them and without any apparent
reason."
The Australian, 1 Dec 04
The whale was identified as a Cuvier's beaked
whale, which can grow to around 7.6 metres
and weigh up to 3 tonnes. The whales usually
live in small groups of two to seven but it
is not uncommon for them to be seen alone.
