Whale rescue attempt

By Gary Booth

Navy personnel at Fleet Base West attempt to re-float a Gray’s Beaked Whale which beached itself at Garden Island.

Photo: Priscilla Alchin

The Navy has made a valiant, but ultimately doomed, attempt to rescue a fellow seafarer in distress at Fleet Base West.

FBW Conservation and Land Management Ranger Trevor Smith was told a whale had beached itself on the west of Garden Island last week, so he and WONPC Steve Sinclair rushed to find the animal.

The five metre Gray’s Beaked Whale weighing about 1500kg was located, definitely beached, and the call went to AUSCDTFOUR for assistance.

AUSCDTFOUR (LCDR S. Bliss) responded promptly, with LSCD Darren Schubach, ABCDs Shane Damian, Michael Gorham and Jason Pepper, under the capable supervision of POCD Jock Campbell, keeping the whale afloat and off the beach for some hours, while awaiting a specialist team from CALM to arrive.

The whale was guided into a sling alongside a CALM vessel in preparation for moving the animal into deeper water where whales of this type are more commonly found.

But on release it was found the whale had died.

Mr John Edwards, CALM onsite team leader, praised the Navy’s efforts. “We could not have achieved [the rescue attempt] without the assistance of Navy personnel,” he said.

CALM Wildlife Officer Doug Coughran said the whale was believed to be the same one which had beached itself south of Mandurah a week before.

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