Date 2005-03-04
Location South Africa, Blouberg beach
Species Beaked whale (unidentified)
Number 1
Stranded Alive Yes
Behavior if alive "Men tried to move the four-metre-long juvenile whale into deeper water but it repeatedly returned to the beach."

"It swam out for about 20m then started turning back to the beach," according to Adrian K??hn, who was part of the rescue effort.

"Adel?© Pretorius, of the Blouberg Conservation Area, said the whale was so exhausted that when they pushed it back the third time, 'it got stuck on a sand bank and tipped over.'"
Notes After three unsuccessful attempts at releasing the whale, "nature conservation officials decided to shoot the animal to put it out of its misery."
Ref Salie, I. (2005, March 5). Three-hour rescue mission ends in defeat. The Saturday Argus. Retrieved March 13, 2005, from http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=14&art_id=vn20050305134727420C896198
Last Updated 2005-03-20
ID 207