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Lost humpback whale which ended in Buenos Aires lured back to sea

Wednesday, August 5th 2015 - 06:52 UTC
Full article 6 comments
The mammal, apparently a humpback, measuring some seven meters appeared near a posh Buenos Aires Yacht Club on Monday morning The mammal, apparently a humpback, measuring some seven meters appeared near a posh Buenos Aires Yacht Club on Monday morning
News of the whale quickly spread on social media and was broadcast live by local stations, prompting hundreds to line up to catch a glimpse News of the whale quickly spread on social media and was broadcast live by local stations, prompting hundreds to line up to catch a glimpse
“Its health does not appear to be the best,” Fundacion Cethus president Miguel Iñiguez said, adding that the whale appeared to be “skinny.” “Its health does not appear to be the best,” Fundacion Cethus president Miguel Iñiguez said, adding that the whale appeared to be “skinny.”

A lost whale which made a surprise visit to a marina in the Buenos Aires port area, periodically surfacing among the yachts while hundreds of onlookers tried to capture the moment with smartphones, finally on Tuesday was lured back to the open sea in a combined operation.

 The mammal, apparently a humpback, measuring some seven meters appeared near the Yacht Club on Monday morning, an unexpected diversion from its migration route beginning in Argentina's southeast up to the warmer Brazilian.

Rescue workers, with help from the Coast Guard, the Environment secretary, marine biologists and local NGOs tried to lead the whale to open water on Monday. It was showing signs of malnutrition and wounds on its skin, experts said.

But is was only on Tuesday morning when workers led by city government vessels were able to guide the animal toward the Rio Plata River, from which they hoped it would reach the Atlantic Ocean.

On Monday news of the whale quickly spread on social media and was broadcast live by local stations, prompting hundreds to line up to catch a glimpse. The Coast Guard office said the whale had some fishing net pieces hanging.

Mariano Sironi, scientific director of the Whale Conservation Institute in Argentina, said whales sometimes get disoriented and swim upstream in rivers. When that happens, they often need help to get back to sea — usually from boats to direct them.

A freshwater environment like a marina can hurt the skin of whales, provides no food and makes it harder for them to swim because it is not as buoyant as salt water, Sironi said.

“Its health does not appear to be the best,” Fundacion Cethus president Miguel Iñiguez told the Buenos Aires TN television network on Tuesday, adding that the whale appeared to be “skinny.”

Fundacion Cethus specialists also helped lead the whale to open water.

Gabriela Bellazzi from the Stranded Whales network in Puerto Madryn warned that if the whale remains to long in fresh water “she rapidly dehidrates because she obtains brine from her food”.

Categories: Environment, Argentina.

Top Comments

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  • ilsen

    Finally some good news from Argentina. Such a rarity!
    Now they can get back to the important work of creating more poor people.

    Aug 05th, 2015 - 10:31 am 0
  • Frank

    If it wasn't sick when it arrived it will be pretty sick by now.... the water there is about as filthy as any on the planet... thats not fresh water... that is foul water....

    Aug 05th, 2015 - 11:19 am 0
  • The Voice

    Yeah, anyone who has eaten in those overpriced restaurants down there will tell you the foods not great. The whale has got taste, better food to be found back in the Atlantic.

    Aug 05th, 2015 - 12:08 pm 0
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