KOTA KINABALU: Staff of a beach resort here have rescued a pygmy killer whale stranded by the shore during low tide.
Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa security personnel discovered the stranded whale at about 7am.
According to resort staff, they swiftly steered the mammal to the water and monitored it closely.
Whale of a tale: Ken carefully holding the pygmy killer whale that was stranded by the shore during low tide at Tanjung Aru Beach yesterday.
The resort staff also notified WWF-Malaysia who informed the Sabah Fisheries Department, Sabah Wildlife Department and Dr Lindsay Porter from St Andrew’s University’s Sea Mammal Research Unit to assist in the mammal’s rescue.
They decided to move the animal to the resort’s enclosed sea lagoon where it would be safe from boats and fishermen until it can be released into the wild.
The mammal’s condition remained unclear as it didn’t have any visible injuries though it appeared weak and listless.
A volunteer team from the NGO Leap (Land, Empowerment, Animal, People organisation) has been organised to monitor the animal with attempts to feed it.
“The appearance of this rare whale is very exciting and shows the continued importance of Sabah’s seas for marine life and bio-diversity,” said Ken Kassem, WWF-Malaysia head of marine conservation.
Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa will continue to provide assistance to WWF and Leap while the animal remains in its lagoon.
Pygmy killer whale beached at Tg Aru
Chok Sim Yee Borneo Post 11 Jan 12;
KOTA KINABALU: A pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuate, was found stranded on Tanjung Aru beach yesterday morning.
The mammal was discovered on the beach during low tide by a security personnel from Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa at 7am.
He immediately carried the mammal back to the water and monitored it while staff at the resort notified WWF-Malaysia, which in turn asked the Sabah Fisheries Department, Sabah Wildlife Department and Dr Lindsay Porter from St. Andrew’s University’s Sea Mammal Research Unit to assist in rescuing the whale.
Although the mammal bore no visible injuries, its health status was unclear as it appeared weak and listless.
The pygmy killer whale was later moved to the resort’s enclosed sea lagoon to protect it from boats and fishermen until it could be released back to the wild.
A volunteer team from Land, Empowerment, Animal, People (L.E.A.P.) has been formed to monitor and feed the whale.
WWF-Malaysia marine conservation chief Ken Kassem said the appearance of the rare mammal is very exciting as it shows the importance of Sabah waters to marine life and biodiversity.
“We sincerely hope that this particular animal will recover soon and live a long and healthy life,” he said.
The resort will continue to provide assistance to WWF and L.E.A.P while the animal remains at the lagoon.
Pygmy killer whale released to the wild
Chok Sim Yee The Borneo Post 12 Jan 12;
KOTA KINABALU: The pygmy killer whale which was found stranded on Tanjung Aru beach on Tuesday morning was yesterday released back to the wild.
A group of onlookers cheered when the Sabah Wildlife Department, with the assistance of Dr Lindsay Porter from St. Andrew’s University’s Sea Mammal Research Unit, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa Kota Kinabalu, WWF-Malaysia, Borneo Dream and L.E.A.P (Land, Empowerment, Animal, People), successfully guided the whale onto a stretcher and lifted it to a speedboat to be returned to the sea.
The mammal, which has been named Tony, was discovered by a security personnel of Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa Kota Kinabalu at 7am on Tuesday.
The whale was moved to the resort’s enclosed sea lagoon to protect it from boats and fishermen till it could be freed.
Around 30 to 40 volunteers, comprising divers, surfers, students, hotel guests, staff from WWF-Malaysia and and L.E.A.P., took turns for 15 to 20 minutes each throughout the night to try to feed the mammal and keep it afloat under the supervision of the Sabah Wildlife Department.
Porter, when met yesterday, said the pygmy killer whale probably originated from Sabah waters or adjacent waters.
However, little is known about this species, which belongs to the dolphin family, she said.
“It has been identified from the east coast and Semporna, but we know little about the biology of the animal,” Porter said.
She said the species usually travels in a group of 50 to 100, and the reason the pygmy killer whale got stranded on the beach is unknown.
She believed there could be infections or illnesses that were not visible from its exterior.
Meanwhile, WWF-Malaysia marine conservation chief Ken Kassem said, “We try to make it feel comfortable, regain its energy so that we can release it and give it a fighting chance to survive.
“The pygmy killer whale, around two metres in length, is not juvenile but has not reached its adult size either.
“It is hoped that the 30-plus hours rest enabled the whale to recuperate and return to its natural habitat.
“The cause of the whale’s stranding is unknown and there is a possibility that it may not survive this ordeal.”
Sabah Wildlife Department director Laurentius Ambu said there was very little that could be done to treat marine animals.
“After a long rest and signs of improvement we felt it was best to release it to the wild.
“We thank Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa and all the volunteers for their support and assistance,” he said.
Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa general manager Andrew Steele, who was among the volunteers who swam out to the sea to aid in the release, commended the spirit of care, humanity and community shown by volunteers in effort to save the pygmy killer whale.
“We often forgot about caring and humanity, caring about the environment till something like this happened, which bring us back to a more caring society,” he said.